People are more self-reliant than ever. Does your car need some repairs? Just watch that YouTube video. Want to unclog your sink? YouTube video. Trying to learn cursive writing? YouTube… look, you get the point.
Anything you want to learn, you can find, and there’s great potential to teach and train yourself on the Internet. Does that mean you’ll never need a professional ever again?
Well, not necessarily. Take, for example, your hearing aids. Imagine if you detect some hearing loss and find yourself in need of these practical little devices. Does that mean you should just drive up to the local pharmacy and grab a set of over-the-counter hearing aids? It sounds nice and easy (and gives you the illusion of self-sufficiency), but there are some considerable drawbacks. In fact, visiting a hearing specialist for hearing aids can help make your hearing aids more reliable and more comfortable.
What are the symptoms of hearing loss?
The symptoms of hearing loss might appear to be clear-cut, even obvious. You can’t hear as well, right? Well, yes, but the presentations of hearing loss can be a lot more variable, and far less apparent. In many situations, we don’t know what to watch out for and we miss the signs of hearing loss.
Here are some of the most prevalent hearing loss symptoms:
- Having to constantly crank the volume up: Is the volume on your television continuously going up? Well, there’s your first common symptom. This one is often missed because it progresses gradually over a long period of time.
- Asking people to repeat themselves: You’re frequently needing people to repeat what they said. Even if you feel like people are talking quietly, it’s actually hearing loss that’s the issue. If you begin to come across a great many individuals who “mumble,” it may be your ears that are the problem.
- Exhaustion and headaches: Your brain often has to work extra hard as it struggles to process sound. It needs to work much harder to process information, it’s like squinting all the time, but with your ears. Fatigue and chronic headaches can be the result.
- Having a tough time hearing when it’s noisy: Do you have a hard time following discussions when you go out to eat with family or friends? This is generally a pretty reliable indication that some degree of hearing loss may be happening.
Obviously, there are other symptoms of hearing loss besides these. Everybody’s hearing loss experience is unique. But you should definitely come see us for an assessment if you are detecting any of these symptoms.
Can a diagnosis be useful?
So, you have hearing loss symptoms. Perhaps you should go out to your local box-store and buy an over-the-counter hearing aid. Well, would you go out and buy prescription glasses without getting an eye exam? It might work sometimes. But knowing more about your condition is really indispensable.
Everybody’s experience of hearing loss is distinct and complex. It’s not like the volume in your ear is simply turned down. Actually, people tend to lose their hearing in specific frequency ranges as the stereocilia in the ear get damaged.
And most people don’t even detect it. Compensating for these types of changes is something that the brain is quite good at. For this reason, it’s typically necessary to get a hearing examination. This screening process can help you discover hearing loss you might not even realize you have. You’ll also have the opportunity to correctly diagnose which frequencies are fading the quickest (and because of this, you will be in a better position to manage symptoms.)
Benefits of going to a hearing specialist
When you go and buy a hearing aid off the shelf, you’ll be doing the best you can to match what’s available on the shelf with what you require.
But when you go see a hearing specialist, your hearing aids can be tailored to your needs. Your hearing specialist can help you pick the best device for your symptoms and then customize that device specifically for the frequency you need assistance with.
Your hearing specialist will also have the following advantages:
- Your hearing specialist can ensure that your hearing aids last as long as possible by helping you understand and plan appropriate upkeep and maintenance.
- When you have problems using or understanding how to use your hearing aid, your hearing specialist can help take you step-by-step through the process and be certain that you understand how to get the most out of your devices.
- Adjusting your hearing aid more successfully is also something your hearing specialist can also assist you with. This is critical to a quality experience with your devices.
- The ability to help you personalize the overall fit of your hearing aid, making sure your devices are comfortable and work properly.
Even if you get lucky enough to pick the best hearing aids for you, if don’t have the benefit of a hearing specialist, your hearing experience will probably be less than ideal.
You will also be better able to manage your hearing loss symptoms with the help of a hearing specialist. With the correct strategy, you’ll be much less likely to lose touch with friends or become distant with family on account of your hearing loss symptoms. You’ll be able to keep those connections. And that can be extremely important.
Not everything has to be DIY
It doesn’t mean you’re less self-sufficient simply because you need some help with hearing aids. Quite the opposite, actually. Your self-sufficiency and independence will be increased by using the right hearing aids.
A hearing specialist can help you diagnose your hearing loss, regulate your symptoms, and pick out the correct device for your needs.
In other words, if you think you have hearing loss, it’s time to give us a call!
