You should see an audiologist as soon as you can if you experience:
1) Increased difficulty in hearing clearly in the presence of other, competing sound, such as a noisy restaurant or if a radio or television is on in the same room.
2) A need to ask for repetition more often than other people.
3) You find that speech is not clear.
4) You need to increase the volume of television, radio or phone.
5) You have difficulty understanding people with accents.
6) You need to lean forward during a conversation, especially in noise.
7) You having difficulty judging the direction of sound.
8) Your hearing does not feel the same on both sides.
9) You notice a new or unusual symptom, including:
10) You hear constant sound in one or both ears that does not go awayYou become highly sensitive to sound

• You experiencing sensations of blockage in one or both ears
• You experience dizziness
• You become very irritated with specific sounds to the extent that they disrupt your normal quality of life.

11) You experience unusual fatigue in noisy places or become reluctant to go out and enjoy a normal level of social interaction (compared to your normal desires).
12) You have a family history of hearing loss
If you experience pain or discharge in one or both of your ears, see your medical doctor for treatment, but have your hearing checked afterwards. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that by 2050, there will be more than 900 million people living with disabling hearing loss (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss).
iCAN supports the general practice of testing hearing at birth; once a year throughout childhood until the early twenties; at least once every decade between 20 and 50, and then every third year after 50 (assuming hearing is experienced as ‘normal’ by the person). In cases where hearing loss has been diagnosed, we recommend annual testing regardless of age. Find An Audiologist