Individuals are more self-dependent than ever. Want to fix up your car? Simply watch that YouTube video. Is your sink clogged? YouTube video. Trying to learn cursive writing? YouTube… look, you get the point.
Anything you want to learn, you can find, and there’s amazing potential to teach and train yourself on the Internet. So the real question is, are we finished needing experts?
Well, not exactly. Take, for instance, your hearing aids. Imagine if you detect some hearing loss and find yourself in need of these helpful little devices. Does that mean you should just drive up to the local pharmacy and get a pair of over-the-counter hearing aids? It sounds nice and easy (and gives you the illusion of self-sufficiency), but there are some 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.
Hearing loss symptoms
You may think that hearing loss symptoms are pretty self-evident. You can’t hear as well, right? Well, yes, but the symptoms of hearing loss can be much more diverse, and much less apparent. In many cases, we don’t know what to look for and we miss the symptoms of hearing loss.
Some of the most common symptoms of hearing loss include the following:
- Needing people to repeat what they said: You may often ask people to repeat themselves. This is a sign of hearing loss, even if it seems like the volume is the problem. You should consider whether it’s an issue with your ears if lots of individuals start to seem like their “mumbling”.
- Having a difficult time hearing when it’s loud: When you’re out at dinner with friends and family, you have a tough time following along with discussions. This is normally a fairly reliable indication that some amount of hearing loss may be happening.
- Having to continually turn 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 develops gradually over a long period of time.
- Tiredness and headaches: Often, when you have hearing loss, your brain fights to keep up. It’s like you’re constantly squinting with your ears as your brain works overtime attempting to process sound. Tiredness and chronic headaches can be the consequence.
Needless to say, these symptoms aren’t necessarily the only symptoms of hearing loss. Everybody’s experience will be slightly different. But you should definitely come see us for an assessment if you are noticing any of these symptoms.
Can a diagnosis be helpful?
So, you are realizing that you are unable to hear as well as you once did. Perhaps you should run out to your local box-store and buy an over-the-counter hearing aid. Well, that would be kind of like buying some corrective glasses without determining your prescription. In most cases, it will be crucial to have a strong understanding of the exact nature of your condition.
Everyone’s experience of hearing loss is unique and complex. It’s not as if the volume in your ear is merely turned down. Actually, individuals tend to lose their hearing in particular frequency ranges as the stereocilia in the ear get damaged.
And it often goes undetected. Compensating for these types of changes is something that the brain is quite good at. Because of this, it’s usually necessary to get a hearing assessment. You may not even recognize you have hearing loss but a hearing examination can uncover any you might have. You’ll also have the chance to correctly diagnose which frequencies are fading the fastest (and as a result, 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 need to do by yourself if you decide on over-the-counter hearing aids.
But your hearing aids can be calibrated to your specific hearing needs if you go to a hearing specialist. Your hearing specialist can help you pick the best device for your symptoms and then tailor that device specifically for the wavelengths you need help with.
Here are some other advantages 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 can also help you understand how to adjust your hearing aid successfully. This is crucial to a quality experience with your devices.
- The ability to help you individualize the general fit of your hearing aid, ensuring your devices are comfortable and work effectively.
- Your hearing specialist can help you understand how to get the most out of your hearing aids if you’re having trouble understanding how to best use them.
Even if you get lucky enough to select the best hearing aids for you, if don’t have the benefit of a hearing specialist, your hearing experience will most likely be less than ideal.
You will also be better capable of managing your hearing loss symptoms with the help of a hearing specialist. With the correct approach, you’ll be much less likely to lose friends or become isolated from your family on account of your hearing loss symptoms. Those relationships will be preserved. And that can be exceedingly important.
Not everything has to be DIY
It doesn’t mean you’re less self-sufficient simply because you need some assistance with hearing aids. As a matter of fact, it’s actually the opposite. The right hearing aid can increase your independence and self-sufficiency.
Diagnosing your hearing loss, managing your symptoms, and picking out the correct hearing aids are all things that your hearing specialist will help you do.
In other words, if you suspect you have hearing loss, it’s time to give us a call!