If you have an earache, your hearing issues may be a symptom of earwax blockage rather than an issue with the functionality of your ear. This can be remedied with earwax removal, which should only be done by a hearing professional.

If you have trouble hearing certain pitches, or often find speech to be garbled and/or quiet, you may have permanent hearing loss. This can be treated with hearing aids.

Outer or middle ear issues that cause hearing loss tend to have physical manifestations such as ear discharge and ear pain. A hearing professional can access the level of damage within your middle ear and suggest a suitable solution.

Hearing loss as a result of inner ear damage can be harder to identify, but usually has a greater impact on our social lives, making it harder for us to both hear and understand speech.