Audio/Sound Not Working

So a while back, I was using my computer to listen to music when suddenly a loud scratching noise came from the speakers. My sound worked after that but scratching still came occasionally. However, later my audio completely stopped working. Spotify couldn't play songs. I tried updating the software, unplugging/plugging in my headphones, and no output devices have been found. I have tried PRAM and still nothing. Currently whenever I try to change volume, an error mark appears. I am wondering if the hardware is starting to become corrupt because my computer seems to slow down occasionally. I have gone through multiple troubleshooting and nothing seems to work. Any answers? Should I take my computer to the Apple Store to fix it?