Ask yourself the following questions.

Do you experience ringing or noises in the ear?

Do you hear better with one ear than with the other?

Have any of your relatives (by birth) had a hearing loss?

Have you had any significant noise exposure at work, recreation, or in military service?

Do you find it difficult to follow a conversation in a noisy restaurant or a crowded room?

Do you sometimes feel that people are mumbling or not speaking clearly?

Do you experience difficulty following dialogue in the theatre?

Do you sometimes find it difficult to understand a speaker at a public meeting or a religious service?

Do you find yourself asking people to speak up or repeat themselves?

Do you find men's voices easier to understand than women's?

Do you experience difficulty understanding soft whispered speech?

Do you sometimes have difficulty understanding speech on the telephone or TV?

Does your hearing problem cause you to feel embarrassed when meeting new people?

Do you feel handicapped by your hearing problem?

Does your hearing problem cause you to be nervous?

Does your hearing problem cause you to visit friends, relatives, or neighbours less often than you would like?

Does your hearing problem cause you to talk to family members less often than you would like?

Does your hearing problem cause you to feel depressed?


YES answers to any of these questions may indicate a hearing loss.

YES answers to several questions strongly suggest a hearing test is necessary.