Care Navigator: Find Your Next Step in Hearing Care

Based on your answers, this tool sees a sudden change and at least one red-flag symptom (such as one-sided loss, severe vertigo, facial weakness, ear drainage, or other neurologic changes).

These patterns can signal problems that are time-sensitive for hearing and brain health. Acting quickly can improve the chances of protecting hearing or preventing serious complications.

• Contact urgent care, an emergency department, or your primary care/ENT office today.
• Use phrases like “sudden hearing loss,” “new one-sided hearing loss,” or “sudden vertigo with hearing change” when you call.
• If you notice severe neurologic changes (trouble speaking, weakness, confusion), treat this as a medical emergency and seek emergency services immediately.

While you arrange care

• • Learn what different kinds of hearing loss mean in the Understanding hub.
• • If you already have a hearing test, the Test Results Decoder can help you understand the numbers while you wait for follow-up.

Even if symptoms improve, sudden changes—especially in one ear—matter. Tell your clinicians if you experienced a sudden change, not just how you feel now.

You reported a sudden change in hearing or ear symptoms but did not select additional red-flag features. Sudden changes—especially in one ear—can still represent a hearing emergency even without pain or drainage.

Clinicians sometimes use the term “sudden sensorineural hearing loss” for certain patterns of sudden hearing drop. When caught early, treatment may help protect some hearing.

• Call your primary care provider, ENT, or urgent care as soon as you can and mention “sudden hearing change.”
• If you notice new one-sided tinnitus, fullness, or imbalance, share that clearly.
• If any severe vertigo, facial weakness, or neurologic changes appear, treat it as an emergency.

Helpful learning while you wait

• • Review common hearing patterns in the Understanding hub.
• • If you have recent test results, plug them into the Test Results Decoder so you can bring questions to your visit.

This tool leans toward safety. When in doubt about sudden change, we recommend prompt in-person evaluation.

You described a gradual change in hearing or ear function that is now a big problem most days, and you’re ready to act. That’s exactly when a hearing-focused evaluation can make a difference.

• Look for an audiologist or hearing clinic to:
  • Measure hearing in each ear.
  • Check how clearly you understand speech.
  • Talk through device options (hearing aids, assistive tech, etc.).
• If there is a history of ear surgery, infections, drainage, or other medical issues, ask whether you should see an ENT/otologist as well.

Where to focus next

• • Explore device options in the Devices hub so you’re not starting from scratch.
• • If you use an iPhone, the iPhone Hearing Health Guide can help you track sound exposure and support conversations in noise.

You described gradual changes that are noticeable but not overwhelming yet, or you’re not sure how big a problem they are. That’s a good moment to build understanding and get a baseline hearing test—without waiting for a crisis.

• Consider scheduling a non-urgent audiology visit for a baseline hearing test, even if you’re coping for now.
• Use the Understanding hub to learn what “mild,” “moderate,” and “severe” actually mean in daily life.
• If you already have a test, the Test Results Decoder can translate the numbers into plain language.

You’re not reporting a specific sudden or gradual change—you’re mostly exploring or checking risk. That’s an excellent time to learn how hearing works and set yourself up for future you.

• Visit the Understanding hub to:
  • Learn how hearing changes with age.
  • Spot early signs that might matter later.
  • Understand the difference between “hearing” and “understanding.”
• If you ever get a hearing test, save the printout and run it through the Test Results Decoder.

If you later notice sudden changes, one-sided issues, or new dizziness, come back to this tool and answer as “sudden” so we can treat that as urgent.

You’re mostly exploring how to help someone else, without a clear urgent problem. That’s a great moment to learn the landscape and gather language that feels respectful and practical.

• Use the Understanding hub to:
  • Learn how different patterns of loss affect daily life.
  • Find communication tips you can use immediately.
• When they have a hearing test, walk through the Test Results Decoder together to understand what the audiogram means at home, at work, or at school.

You’re noticing changes over time in a child or loved one. Even if they’re coping, it’s worth getting a clear picture so you’re not guessing.

• Ask their primary care clinician about a referral for a hearing test with an audiologist, especially if there are speech, school, or social concerns.
• After testing, walk through the Test Results Decoder together so everyone understands what the results mean.

You identified yourself as a clinician, educator, or other professional. This tool can support triage conversations but doesn’t replace your judgement or local protocols.

• Use the urgent paths (sudden change plus red-flag symptoms) to normalize why you’re recommending same-day or urgent evaluation.
• Share the Test Results Decoder with patients and families who leave with audiograms they find confusing.
• For tech-curious patients, point them to the iPhone Hearing Health Guide and the Devices hub for evidence-aligned device education.

The combination of answers you chose didn’t clearly fit one of the main paths we use (sudden/urgent, gradual, exploring, or professional).

• Double-check that you selected whether the change was sudden or gradual.
• If you’re mainly curious, pick “I’m just exploring or checking risk.”
• When in doubt, starting with the Understanding hub and a non-urgent baseline hearing test is rarely the wrong move.