People are becoming self-reliant more than ever before. Does your car require some repairs? Just watch that YouTube video. Want to unclog your sink? YouTube video. Attempting to learn cursive writing? YouTube… look, you get the idea.
Anything you want to learn, you can find, and there’s great potential to teach and train yourself on the Internet. So the real question is, are we finished needing professionals?
Not always. Hearing aids are a good example. Imagine if you notice some hearing loss and find yourself in need of these helpful little devices. Should you race out to Walmart and pick up a pair of over-the-counter hearing aids? Although this might make you feel like you’re being self-sufficient and sound like the convenient 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 symptoms
You might think that hearing loss symptoms are fairly self-evident. Things become more difficult to hear, right? While that may sometimes be the truth, in other circumstances the symptoms can be less evident. Certainly, individuals often miss the indications of hearing loss because they don’t know what to look for.
Some of the most prevalent symptoms of hearing loss include the following:
- Having a difficult time hearing when it’s loud: Do you have a tough time following discussions when you go out to dinner with family or friends? This is normally a fairly reliable sign that some degree of hearing loss could be occurring.
- The persistent need to crank the volume up: Is your television volume constantly going up? Well, that’s an indicator of hearing loss. This is one of the more apparent ones, but it tends to develop so slowly that it’s often missed.
- Needing people to repeat what they said: You’re frequently needing people to repeat what they said. Even if you feel like people are speaking quietly, it’s actually hearing loss that’s the issue. If you start to encounter a great many individuals who “mumble,” it might be your ears that are the problem.
- Fatigue and headaches: Typically, when you have hearing loss, your brain struggles to keep up. It’s like you’re continuously squinting with your ears as your brain works overtime attempting to process sound. Fatigue and chronic headaches can be the result.
Clearly, there are other symptoms of hearing loss besides these. Everybody’s experience will be a bit 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 are recognizing that you can’t hear as well as you used to. Maybe you should run out to your local box-store and buy an over-the-counter hearing aid. Well, that would be kind of like purchasing some corrective glasses without determining your prescription. It may work sometimes. But understanding more about your condition is definitely indispensable.
That’s because hearing loss is a complex issue. It’s not like the volume in your ear is merely turned down. Actually, people tend to lose their hearing in specific frequency ranges as the stereocilia in the ear become damaged.
And it frequently goes unnoticed. Compensating for these kinds of changes is something that the brain is extremely good at. That’s why a hearing test is typically essential. You may not even know you have hearing loss but a hearing assessment can expose any you might have. This will also allow you to know which frequencies you’re beginning to lose (and because of this, you will be in a better position to control symptoms.)
Advantages of working with 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 decide on over-the-counter hearing aids.
But when you go see a hearing specialist, your hearing aids can be customized to your requirements. We will help you pick the ideal device for your needs and we will calibrate it to boost the specific frequency that you’re having difficulty hearing.
Here are a few other benefits to seeing a hearing specialist:
- 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.
- Your hearing specialist will help you understand how to get the most out of your hearing aids if you’re having trouble understanding how to best utilize them.
- Your hearing specialist can also help you figure out how to adjust your hearing aid effectively. This is critical to a quality experience with your devices.
- Certainty, that your device will be comfortable by getting a custom fitting.
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 most likely be less than optimal.
Also, hearing specialists will be able to help you control your hearing loss symptoms. With the right approach, you’ll be much less likely to lose touch with friends or become isolated from your family because of your hearing loss symptoms. Those relationships will be maintained. And for the majority of people, that’s one of the most worthwhile parts of life.
Not everything has to be DIY
It doesn’t mean you’re less self-sufficient just because you need some assistance with hearing aids. Quite the opposite, actually. Your self-sufficiency and independence will be enhanced by using the correct hearing aids.
A hearing specialist can help you diagnose your hearing loss, control your symptoms, and pick out the right device for your needs.
In other words, if you think you have hearing loss, it’s time to call us!