Most hearing loss occurs gradually and as we adjust and compensate, the symptoms become difficult to recognize. You might begin turning up the volume on the TV or ask others to repeat themselves.

When our hearing begins to fade we tend to forget how things really sound. We live in a quieter world, unaware that we are missing many soft sounds of everyday life - like the patter of rain or birdsongs.

It's time to consult a Hearing Care Professional if you are experiencing one or more of the following problems/symptoms:

• People seem to be mumbling
• You have to strain to hear when someone talks or whispers
• You have difficulty hearing someone call from behind or from another room
• You need to watch the speaker's lips more closely to follow conversation
• Understanding a conversation is difficult when you're in a group of people, for example at a meeting, at family gatherings, at church, or during lectures
• You have to turn up the volume on the TV or radio
• You have problems hearing clearly on the telephone
• You have difficulty hearing at the theatre, cinema, or other entertainment venues
• It's hard to hear in noisy environments, for example in a restaurant or in a car
• You limit social activities due to poor hearing and communicating
• Family, friends, or colleagues mention they often repeat themselves