Questions
Questions for a specialist
You can't ask a question through this site: the guide does not give consultations or see patients. Instead, we have collected questions that are useful to ask at an appointment and suggested which observations to bring along so that your conversation with the doctor is more productive.
It is easier for a doctor to help when you come with observations, not just with worries. A couple of notes on your phone save time for both of you.
How this section works: the questions are for an ENT doctor or an audiologist — the specialists who deal with ears and hearing. Under each question we explain what is useful to mention or write down in advance. The answer depends on your situation, and only a doctor can give it after an examination.
About headphones and noise
Am I listening to music too loudly?
Say how many hours a day you spend wearing headphones and at what volume. If you keep notes, show them — it makes it easier for the doctor to judge your listening load.
Which headphones suit my ears best?
Ask not about brands but about types: which headphones are comfortable for the shape of your ear canals and don't cause irritation.
Why do my ears ring after a concert?
Describe how long the ringing lasted, whether it comes back and in which situations. This helps decide whether a hearing test is needed.
How can I protect my hearing in a noisy job?
Describe the kind of noise you are exposed to and for how long. Ask which hearing protection and breaks are right for you.
About children
Can my child hear well?
Write down how your child reacts to sounds, whether they respond to their name and how their speech is developing. These observations matter more than general worries.
Can my child use headphones?
Ask from what age and for how long it is acceptable. As a reminder, for children the WHO–ITU standard uses a reference of 75 dB(A) for 40 hours a week.
Does my child need a hearing test before school?
Ask which checks are included in routine check-ups and whether anything extra is needed given what you have noticed.
How should I clean my child's ears?
Ask how to care for the ears without putting cotton buds into the ear canal, and when an ear should be examined by a doctor.
About hearing tests
How often should I have my hearing checked?
Tell the doctor about your work, your habits and whether any relatives have had hearing problems. The doctor will suggest how often you should be tested.
What will audiometry show?
Ask for the result to be explained in plain words: at which frequencies your hearing is normal, where there are differences and what that means for you personally.
Do I need a hearing aid?
A specialist decides this after an assessment. Ask what support options exist in your case and how choosing and fitting works.
What should I do if my hearing changes again?
Ask which changes need an urgent visit. Sudden hearing loss is a reason to see a doctor without delay.
Read next
- Methods
How hearing is tested, how it is protected and how specialists help people with reduced hearing.
- Prevention
How to listen to music on headphones and spend time in noisy places without losing your hearing: a clear step-by-step plan.
- Topics
Hearing topics by group: how the ear works, noise and headphones, children and hearing problems. Also home to the article catalogue.
- Glossary
Hearing words in plain language: from the eardrum and the decibel to audiometry.
Sources
- WHO — materials on safe listening and World Hearing Day
- Textbooks on the physiology of hearing
This guide summarises generally accepted information about hearing as of the date it was prepared. Recommendations from international organisations are updated from time to time, and decisions about your own hearing are made together with a doctor after an examination.