People are becoming self-reliant more than ever before. Want to fix up your car? Simply watch that YouTube video. Is your sink clogged? YouTube video. Attempting 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 educate yourself on the Internet. Does that mean you’ll never need a specialist ever again?
Not always. Take, for instance, your hearing aids. Let’s envision that you develop a need for these useful little devices. Should you race out to Walmart and pick up a pair of over-the-counter hearing aids? It sounds nice and easy (and gives you the impression of self-sufficiency), but there are a few substantial drawbacks. As a matter of fact, consulting a hearing specialist for hearing aids can help make your hearing aids more reliable and more comfortable.
What are the signs of hearing loss?
The symptoms of hearing loss might appear to be clear-cut, even obvious. You are unable to hear as well, right? Well, yes, but the presentations of hearing loss can be a lot more variable, and much less apparent. Indeed, individuals frequently miss the symptoms of hearing loss because they don’t know what to watch out for.
Some of the most common symptoms of hearing loss include the following:
- Having to constantly crank up the volume: Are you always turning the volume up on your television? Well, that’s a sign of hearing loss. This is one of the more obvious ones, but it tends to develop so slowly that it’s often missed.
- Having a difficult time hearing when it’s noisy: Do you have a difficult time keeping up with conversations when you go out to dinner with family or friends? This is normally a pretty dependable sign that some amount of hearing loss might be happening.
- Requesting that people repeat themselves: You may often ask people to repeat themselves. Even if you feel as if people are talking quietly, it’s actually hearing loss that’s the issue. If you begin to encounter a great number of people who “mumble,” it may be your ears that are the problem.
- Headaches and exhaustion: Your brain often has to work overtime as it struggles to process sound. It’s having to work much harder to process information, it’s like squinting constantly, but with your ears. This can lead to chronic headaches and tiredness.
Naturally, these symptoms aren’t always the only symptoms of hearing loss. Everyone’s experience will be somewhat different. But if you are noticing any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to visit us to get a diagnosis.
Why is a diagnosis useful?
So, you have the symptoms of hearing loss. Why not just go to the store and buy an over-the-counter hearing aid? Well, that would be sort of like buying some corrective glasses without determining your prescription. It might work sometimes. But knowing more about your condition is absolutely essential.
That’s because hearing loss is a complex condition. It’s not as if the volume in your ear is merely turned down. Actually, individuals tend to lose their hearing in specific frequency ranges as the stereocilia in the ear become damaged.
And most people don’t even detect it. Compensating for these kinds of changes is something that the brain is extremely good at. That’s why a hearing exam is typically required. You might not even know you have hearing loss but a hearing test can uncover any you may have. You’ll also have the chance to properly diagnose which frequencies tend to be fading the quickest (and be better able to manage your symptoms as a result.)
Advantages of working with a hearing specialist
Matching your hearing requirements to the available selection on the shelf will be something you’ll need to do by yourself if you decide on over-the-counter hearing aids.
But when you visit 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 benefits:
- Certainty, that your device will be comfortable by getting a professional fitting.
- Your hearing specialist can help you plan the necessary maintenance for your hearing aid, making sure that your devices last for as long as possible.
- Programing your hearing aid more successfully is also something your hearing specialist can also help you with. This is critical to a good experience with your devices.
- Your hearing specialist can help you understand how to get the most out of your hearing aids if you’re having difficulty understanding how to best utilize them.
Even if you get lucky enough to select the best hearing aids for you, if don’t have the advantage of a hearing specialist, your hearing experience will probably be less than optimal.
You will also be better able to manage your hearing loss symptoms with the help of a hearing specialist. Feeling isolated from family and friends because of hearing loss will be a lot less likely if you take the correct approach. Those relationships will be maintained. And that can be incredibly important.
Not everything has to be DIY
It doesn’t mean you’re less self-sufficient just because you require some help with hearing aids. As a matter of fact, it’s actually the opposite. 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.
So give us a call so that we can help you address your hearing loss.