Individuals are more self-dependent than ever. Does your car need some repairs? You can learn how to do that by watching a YouTube video. Is your sink clogged? YouTube video. Attempting to learn cursive writing? YouTube… look, you get the point.
Anything you want to know, you can find, and there’s great potential to teach and train yourself on the Internet. Does that mean you’ll never need a specialist ever again?
Well, not necessarily. Take, for instance, your hearing aids. Imagine if you notice some hearing loss and find yourself in need of these helpful little devices. Should you run out to Walmart and pick up a set of over-the-counter hearing aids? It sounds fairly effortless (and gives you the impression of self-sufficiency), but there are some substantial drawbacks. In fact, consulting a hearing specialist for hearing aids can help make your hearing aids more reliable and more comfortable.
Hearing loss symptoms
The symptoms of hearing loss might appear to be straightforward, even obvious. You can’t hear as well, right? While that may sometimes be the case, in other circumstances the symptoms can be less obvious. Certainly, people often miss the signs of hearing loss because they don’t know what to look for.
Some of the most common symptoms of hearing loss include the following:
- Difficulty hearing conversations in loud places: When you’re out at a nice restaurant with friends and family, you have a difficult time following along with discussions. This is typically a fairly dependable indication that some degree of hearing loss might be happening.
- Fatigue and headaches: Often, when you have hearing loss, your brain fights to keep up. It’s like you’re continuously squinting with your ears as your brain works extra hard attempting to process sound. This can result in chronic headaches and tiredness.
- Asking people to repeat themselves: You’re often needing people to repeat what they said. Even if you feel like people are talking quietly, it’s actually hearing loss that’s the problem. If you start to experience a great number of individuals who “mumble,” it might be your ears that are the issue.
- Having to continually crank up the volume: Are you constantly turning up the volume on your television? Well, that’s an indicator of hearing loss. This is one of the more evident ones, but it tends to develop so gradually that it’s usually missed.
Of course, these symptoms aren’t necessarily the only signs of hearing loss. Everybody’s experience will be a bit different. But you should definitely come see us for an assessment if you are detecting any of these symptoms.
Why is a diagnosis useful?
So, you are realizing that you can’t hear as well as you used to. 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 may work in some cases. But understanding more about your condition is really indispensable.
Everyone’s experience of hearing loss is unique and complex. It’s not like somebody simply turns the volume knob in your ear. Instead, as stereocilia in your ear become damaged, you usually lose your hearing in parts at a time, that is, you usually lose the ability to hear high-frequency or low-frequency sounds first.
And most people don’t even detect it. Compensating for these kinds of changes is something that the brain is really good at. That’s why a hearing exam is typically required. You might not even know you have hearing loss but a hearing examination can expose any you may have. You’ll also have the chance to accurately diagnose which frequencies tend to be fading the quickest (and as a result, you will be in a better position to control symptoms.)
Benefits 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 by yourself if you go with over-the-counter hearing aids.
But your hearing aids can be fine-tuned to your particular hearing needs if you go to a hearing specialist. Your hearing specialist can help you choose the best device for your symptoms and then customize that device specifically for the wavelengths you need help with.
Your hearing specialist will also have the following benefits:
- Programing your hearing aid more successfully is also something your hearing specialist can also assist you with. So that you can get the best experience from your hearing aid, this is essential.
- The ability to help you individualize the overall fit of your hearing aid, ensuring your devices are comfortable and work effectively.
- When you have trouble using or understanding how to use your hearing aid, your hearing specialist can help walk you through the process and make sure you comprehend how to get the most out of your devices.
- Your hearing specialist can help you set up the appropriate maintenance for your hearing aid, making sure that your devices last for as long as possible.
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 optimal.
Additionally, hearing specialists will be able to help you manage your hearing loss symptoms. Losing touch with family and friends due to hearing loss will be a great deal less likely if you take the right approach. You’ll be able to keep those connections. And for the majority of people, that’s one of the most significant parts of life.
Not everything has to be DIY
It doesn’t mean you’re less self-sufficient simply because you require some assistance with hearing aids. In fact, it’s actually the opposite. Your self-sufficiency and independence will be increased by using the correct hearing aids.
Diagnosing your hearing loss, controlling your symptoms, and selecting the right hearing aids are all things that your hearing specialist will help you do.
So give us a call so that we can help you address your hearing loss.