Do you think you have a hearing loss? Often it is difficult to tell because hearing loss usually occurs gradually such that  you might not be aware of it. Use the following indicators to see if you MAY have a hearing loss:

• Do family members complain about your inability to hear?
• Do you have difficulty understanding what people are saying in noisy places?
• Do you often ask people to repeat themselves?
• Do you find yourself avoiding social situations because you cannot hear?
• Do you turn up the volume on the TV so loud that others are complaining?
• Do you have difficulty determining which direction sounds are coming from?
• Do you have a history of exposure to loud noise (loud concerts, guns, construction, etc.)?
• Do you have difficulty hearing familiar sounds like the telephone and/or doorbell?

If you experience any or all of these problems on a consistent basis, you may have a hearing loss. You are not alone. 10% of the Canadian population suffer from some level of hearing loss; as many as half of these people are under the age of 65.