The following questions may help you decide whether you should have your hearing tested:

• Do you frequently ask for words to be repeated?
• Do you often turn up the television or radio louder than others like?
• Does speech sound muffled to you, or do people sound as though they’re mumbling when they speak to you?
• Do you have ringing in your ears?
• Do you have trouble hearing over the telephone?
• Do you find it difficult to follow a conversation in a noisy restaurant or crowded room?
• Have you had any significant noise exposure at work?
• Do you find men’s voices easier to understand than women’s?
• Does a hearing problem cause you to feel embarrassed when meeting new people?
• Does a hearing problem cause you to visit friends, relatives, or neighbours less often than you would like?
• Does a hearing problem cause you to talk to family members less often than you would like?
• Does a hearing problem cause you to feel depressed?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have a hearing problem. Answering yes to several of the questions, suggests that it might be time to have your hearing tested by a hearing care professional.