There seems to be more confusion when it relates to hearing care than with most other medical specialties. We don’t need to ask, for instance, what a dentist or eye doctor can do for us. But when it comes to our hearing, we’re typically unsure as to what we should do or who we should see.
So what exactly can a local hearing care professional do for you? Many things, actually—things that could end up making your life better and more convenient.
The following are 6 services you should be familiar with.
1. Assessment of hearing and balance
Hearing professionals are specially trained in examining hearing and balance. If you suspect hearing loss, balance problems, or experience ringing or buzzing in the ears, the local hearing professional is the go-to expert.
By performing professional audiological evaluations, hearing specialists can skillfully diagnose the cause of your hearing loss or balance problems. And if your hearing loss is caused by an underlying medical condition, hearing specialists can prepare the applicable referrals.
In addition, If you have recurring ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus, some hearing specialists can supply targeted therapies.
2. Earwax removal
In some cases, what is thought to be hearing loss is nothing more than excessive earwax buildup. While it’s not the most glamorous facet of the job, hearing specialists are skilled in professional ear cleaning. If this is the reason for your hearing loss, you could begin hearing better within a matter of minutes.
And keep in mind, it’s never safe to insert anything, most notably cotton swabs, into your ear canal at home. There are several other appropriate ways to clean your ears, such as with homemade solutions or ideally by booking an appointment the hearing specialist.
3. Customized hearing protection
A great number of people make the mistake of first visiting the hearing specialist after they develop hearing loss. Don’t commit the same mistake. If you work in a noisy industry (for instance as a musician) or take part in loud activities (such as hunting), you should invest in custom made ear protection to prevent future hearing loss.
You could just purchase some foam earplugs at the convenience store, but they’re generally uncomfortable and generate an aggravating muffled sound. Custom earplugs fit comfortably in your ear and maintain the sounds you desire to hear while protecting against the sounds that lead to damage.
4. Expert hearing tests (audiometry)
Hearing loss is imperceptible, pain-free, and oftentimes difficult to recognize or accept. The only way to attain an accurate diagnosis is through a professional hearing examination known as audiometry.
Using sophisticated equipment and techniques, the hearing specialist can precisely diagnose hearing loss. After performing the testing, the results are printed on a chart called an audiogram. Like a fingerprint, everyone’s hearing loss is somewhat different, which will be visually displayed on the audiogram.
If you can reap benefits from hearing aids, the audiogram will function as the blueprint to programming and personalizing the technology.
5. Hearing aid selection and adjustment
Hearing aids come in several styles, from several manufacturers, equipped with countless features. Given that everyone’s hearing loss and preferences are a little different, this variety is necessary—but it does make things slightly overwhelming when you need to make a choice.
That’s where hearing specialists can help you. They’ll help you find the hearing aid that matches your hearing loss while ensuring that you don’t throw away cash on features you simply don’t care about or need.
Once you come across the ideal hearing aid, your hearing specialist will use your audiogram as the blueprint for customization. That way, you’ll be certain that your hearing aid maximizes your hearing based on the sounds you primarily have difficulty hearing.
6. A lifetime of healthy hearing
The health of your hearing should always be preserved as vigorously as any other aspect of your health. We have primary care physicians, dentists, and optometrists that help maintain various aspects of our health on a continuing basis.
In the same way, we ought to have a specific professional watching out for the health of our hearing. Your partnership with your hearing specialist shouldn’t end after your hearing test; it should be on-going. Hearing specialists offer a range of valuable life-long services, including hearing aid cleaning, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair, together with advice and direction on the latest technology.
So although your hearing will inevitably change over time, your hearing specialist should not. If you commit to finding a local professional who cares about helping people above all else, you’ll enjoy the advantages of healthy hearing for life.