Guides · Hearing tests
When do you need a hearing aid? Signs and testing
How do you know whether it is time to look into a hearing aid? On this page: the common signs, whom to turn to and in what order, when to see a doctor quickly, and why the decision is made by a hearing test, not by a feeling or a questionnaire.
G-Sound offers Philips and Oticon hearing aids: Philips HearLink — hearing aids from Philips and Oticon hearing aids. But the first question is not which hearing aid, but whether you need one at all.
What are the common signs of hearing loss?
ASHA, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, offers a short self-test. Among the signs it lists:
- Difficulty hearing on phone calls.
- Difficulty hearing a conversation in a noisy place, for example in a restaurant.
- Asking people again and again to repeat what they said.
According to ASHA, answering yes to one or more questions may point to hearing loss, and then it is worth seeing an audiologist for a more thorough test. Israel's Ministry of Health also lists among the signs of hearing loss “ringing, beeping or tinnitus in the ears accompanied by hearing loss”. More on the signs: How do you know it is time for a hearing test?.
It is also worth paying attention to situations that keep coming back in everyday life: where you find it hard to hear, and with whom. Bring this list to the test.
Is an online questionnaire enough?
No. NIDCD, the US National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, publishes a questionnaire of 10 yes/no questions for adults aged 18–64. According to NIDCD, three or more “yes” answers are a reason to see an ENT doctor or an audiologist for an evaluation.
Note what the questionnaire does: it helps you decide that it is worth getting tested. It does not determine whether you have hearing loss, and certainly not whether you need a hearing aid. The test determines that.
Whom do you turn to, and in what order?
Israel's Ministry of Health describes the stages of diagnosis like this: an examination by a family doctor, an examination by an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor, by referral or directly, and a hearing assessment at a hearing institute. According to the findings, hearing aids or other rehabilitation options are fitted.
This order matters, because part of the investigation is medical. The NHS, the UK's health service, recommends seeing a doctor if your hearing is getting worse, or if it has not come back after treatment for an infection or earwax.
When should you see a doctor quickly?
Sudden hearing loss is a completely different matter. According to the NHS, it is a reason for urgent attention. According to NIDCD, symptoms of sudden hearing loss are a medical emergency, and you should see a doctor immediately. The hearing test should be done within a few days of the symptoms appearing. In such a case, do not wait for a questionnaire or a routine appointment.
What happens after the test?
If the test shows hearing loss, and the professional recommendation is a hearing aid, a process of choosing and fitting begins. The path from the test to the fitting is described on the page A first hearing aid (in Hebrew), and what to prepare for the appointment is explained on the page Before a fitting appointment (in Hebrew).
G-Sound offers hearing tests at home, nationwide, by appointment. How to arrange it and how to prepare your home: Hearing test at home.
And if it is about an elderly parent?
If you are looking into this for a parent, we have a practical guide for families: Hearing aids for elderly parents, and a page about a parent who refuses to try a hearing aid (in Hebrew). On preparing for a test at home with an elderly parent: Home hearing test for seniors.
This information is general and does not replace medical advice. For any sudden change in hearing, pain or discharge, see a doctor.
Sources
- ASHA: Self-Test for Hearing Loss · checked 02.11.2026
- NIDCD: Do You Need a Hearing Test? · checked 02.11.2026
- NIDCD: Sudden Deafness · checked 02.11.2026
- NHS: Hearing loss · checked 02.11.2026
- Israel Ministry of Health: Hearing loss (Hebrew) · checked 02.11.2026
English version: 3 November 2026 · Written by the G-Sound editorial team. General information. It does not replace medical advice. Last checked against the sources: 02.11.2026.
More in English
Frequently asked questions
What do people ask about needing a hearing aid?
How do you know if you need a hearing aid?
By a hearing test. Signs such as difficulty hearing on the phone or in noise are a reason to get tested, but only the test shows whether there is hearing loss and whether a hearing aid is recommended.
What are the common signs of hearing loss?
According to ASHA, among the common signs: difficulty hearing on the phone, difficulty hearing a conversation in a noisy place, and needing to ask people again and again to repeat what they said.
Whom do you turn to first?
According to Israel's Ministry of Health, you first turn to your family doctor. From there you continue to an ear, nose and throat doctor, and then to a hearing assessment at a hearing institute.
Can an online questionnaire determine whether you need a hearing aid?
No. A questionnaire can help you decide that it is worth getting tested. According to NIDCD, three or more positive answers on its questionnaire are a reason to see an ENT doctor or an audiologist. The diagnosis itself is made in a test.
When should you see a doctor urgently?
With sudden hearing loss. According to the NHS, it is a reason for urgent attention. According to NIDCD, it is a medical emergency: see a doctor immediately, and the hearing test should be done within a few days.
Is ringing in the ears a sign of hearing loss?
Israel's Ministry of Health lists ringing, beeping or tinnitus in the ears accompanied by hearing loss among the signs of hearing loss. In this case too, a hearing test is what clarifies the situation.
Please do not send sensitive medical information in a message. We go over the relevant details on the phone.
Want to arrange a hearing test?
Service is by appointment: at the customer's home, at work, and sometimes in the everyday setting where the difficulty happens.
Call G-Sound to arrange a hearing test.
055-3333338G-Sound is an authorized marketer of Philips hearing aids.