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Children should be taken for a hearing test if one or more of the following conditions are prevalent:

• Failure to startle to loud sounds
• Inability to locate the source of sounds
• Generally requiring louder sound levels
• Frequently touching or pulling on one or both ears
• Babbling stops developing or changes to a higher pitch
• Lack of normal response to sounds
• Babbling does not change into recognisable speech sounds
• Failure to respond to simple commands
• Withdrawal from social contact
• Frequently misunderstanding communication

Adult hearing tests should be done when:

• Generally requiring louder sound levels
• Difficulty hearing at levels that were previously easily recognised
• Requiring a television or radio to be louder
• Difficulty localising where sounds are coming from
• Difficulty communicating with people
• Difficulty following conversations
• Difficulty in high density sound areas like shopping centres, etc
• Withdrawal from social contact