People are becoming self-reliant more than they ever did. Want to remodel your kitchen? You can learn how to do that by watching a YouTube video. Is your sink clogged? Again with the YouTube. Want to learn how to do calligraphy? Yup…you guessed it…..YouTube.
You can discover any information you may want to learn and self-learning has never been more accessible. Does that mean you’ll never need a professional ever again?
Well, not necessarily. Take, for example, your hearing aids. Let’s picture that you develop a need for these useful little devices. Does that mean you should just go out to the local pharmacy and pick up a pair of over-the-counter hearing aids? Although this may make you feel like you’re being self-sufficient and sound like the easy option, there are some real downsides. In reality, your hearing aids will be more comfortable and effective if you come in to get a consultation with us.
Hearing loss signs
You might think that hearing loss symptoms are fairly self-evident. Things get harder to hear, right? While that may sometimes be the case, in other circumstances the symptoms can be less evident. Indeed, individuals frequently miss the symptoms of hearing loss because they’re unsure about what to watch out for.
Some of the most common symptoms of hearing loss include the following:
- Problems hearing conversations in noisy settings: When you’re out at dinner with family and friends, you have a tough time following along with discussions. This is usually a rather reliable indication that some degree of hearing loss might be happening.
- The continual need to turn the volume up: Is the volume on your television constantly going up? Well, that’s a sign of hearing loss. This is one of the more obvious ones, but it tends to develop so gradually that it’s frequently missed.
- Requesting that people repeat themselves: You’re often needing people to repeat what they said. This is a sign of hearing loss, even if it seems like the volume is the problem. If you begin to come across a great number of individuals who “mumble,” it may be your ears that are the problem.
- Fatigue and headaches: Your brain often has to work overtime 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. Tiredness and chronic headaches can be the result.
Clearly, there are other signs of hearing loss besides these. Everybody’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.
Can a diagnosis be helpful?
So, you have hearing loss symptoms. Why not just go to the store and buy an over-the-counter hearing aid? Well, that would be kind of like purchasing some corrective glasses without knowing your prescription. It might work sometimes. But understanding more about your condition is really indispensable.
That’s because hearing loss is a complex problem. 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 it frequently goes undetected. The brain is really good at compensating for these things. That’s why a hearing test is typically necessary. 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 correctly diagnose which frequencies are fading the quickest (and because of this, you will be in a better position to control symptoms.)
Advantages of going to a hearing specialist
Matching your hearing needs to the available selection on the shelf will be something you’ll have to do on your own if you go with over-the-counter hearing aids.
But when you go see a hearing specialist, your hearing aids can be customized to your needs. We will help you choose the ideal device for your needs and we will tune it to boost the particular frequency that you’re having difficulty hearing.
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 also help you figure out how to program your hearing aid properly. This is crucial to a quality experience with your devices.
- Your hearing specialist can make sure that your hearing aids last as long as possible by helping you understand and plan correct upkeep and maintenance.
- When you have difficulty using or comprehending how to use your hearing aid, your hearing specialist can help walk you through the process and be certain that you understand how to get the most out of your devices.
Without the advantage of a hearing specialist, your hearing aid experience will most likely be less ideal, even if you do happen to pick the best possible over-the-counter hearing aid for your symptoms.
You will also be better capable of managing your hearing loss symptoms with the help of a hearing specialist. Losing touch with family and friends because of hearing loss will be a great deal less likely if you take the correct approach. You’ll be able to keep those relationships. And that can be exceedingly important.
Everything doesn’t always have to be DIY
It doesn’t mean you’re less self-sufficient just because you require some assistance with hearing aids. In fact, it’s actually the opposite. Your self-sufficiency and independence will be enhanced by using the correct hearing aids.
A hearing specialist can help you diagnose your hearing loss, regulate your symptoms, and select the right device for your needs.
So give us a call so that we can help you address your hearing loss.