The term “hidden hearing loss” can refer to a person's inability to discern and understand conversation in a noisy setting, such as a bar or restaurant. Also known as the “cocktail party effect,” it can be difficult to diagnose as people who go to an audiologist complaining of hearing loss often score normally on an audiogram, the standard way of measuring hearing function. In a recent “New York Times” article, writer Emma Yasinski discusses the science behind hidden hearing loss as well as potential treatments.