Individuals are becoming self-dependent more than ever before. Does your car require some repairs? You can learn how to do that by watching a YouTube video. Is your sink clogged? YouTube video. Want to learn how to do calligraphy? YouTube… look, you get the idea.
Anything you want to know, you can find, and there’s excellent potential to teach and train yourself on the Internet. So the real question is, are we finished needing experts?
Not always. Take, for instance, your hearing aids. Imagine if you detect some hearing loss and find yourself in need of these practical little devices. Does that mean you should just drive up to the local pharmacy 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 solution, there are some real disadvantages. As a matter of fact, going to see a hearing specialist for hearing aids can help make your hearing aids more reliable and more comfortable.
Hearing loss signs
You may think that hearing loss symptoms are pretty self-evident. You are unable to hear as well, right? While that may sometimes be the case, in other situations the symptoms can be less evident. In many cases, we don’t know what to watch out for and we miss the signs of hearing loss.
Here are a few of the most prevalent hearing loss symptoms:
- The continual need to turn the volume up: Is the volume on your television constantly going up? Well, there’s your first common symptom. This is one of the more evident ones, but it tends to progress so slowly that it’s frequently missed.
- Exhaustion and headaches: Your brain frequently has to work extra hard 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. This can trigger chronic headaches and exhaustion.
- Having a hard time hearing when it’s noisy: When you’re out at a nice restaurant with friends and family, you have a difficult time following along with conversations. This is generally a pretty reliable indication that some amount of hearing loss might be occurring.
- Needing people to repeat what they just said: You’re often needing people to repeat what they said. This is a sign of hearing loss, even if it feels like the volume is the issue. If you begin to experience a great number of people who “mumble,” it may be your ears that are the issue.
Clearly, there are other signs of hearing loss besides these. Everyone’s experience will be slightly different. But you should certainly come see us for an assessment if you are detecting any of these symptoms.
Can a diagnosis be helpful?
So, you are recognizing that you are unable to 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, would you go out and purchase prescription glasses without getting an eye exam? In most cases, it will be essential to have a strong understanding of the precise nature of your condition.
Everybody’s experience of hearing loss is distinct and complex. It’s not as if the volume in your ear is merely turned down. Actually, people tend to lose their hearing in particular 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. Because of this, it’s usually necessary to get a hearing examination. You might not even recognize you have hearing loss but a hearing test can expose any you might have. You’ll also have the opportunity to correctly diagnose which frequencies are fading the quickest (and as a result, you will be in a better position to control symptoms.)
Seeing a hearing specialist has its advantages
When you go and buy a hearing aid off the shelf, you’ll be doing your best to match what’s available on the shelf with what you need.
But your hearing aids can be calibrated to your particular hearing needs if you consult with a hearing specialist. We will help you choose the ideal device for your requirements and we will tune it to boost the specific frequency that you’re having difficulty hearing.
Your hearing specialist will also have the following benefits:
- The ability to help you customize the general fit of your hearing aid, making sure your devices are comfortable and effectively working.
- Adjusting your hearing aid more effectively is also something your hearing specialist can also assist you with. This is crucial to a good experience with your devices.
- Your hearing specialist can help you set up the appropriate maintenance for your hearing aid, ensuring that your devices last for as long as possible.
- When you have difficulty using or comprehending how to use your hearing aid, your hearing specialist can help take you step-by-step through the process and be certain that you understand how to get the most out of your devices.
Even if you get lucky enough to pick 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 capable of managing your hearing loss symptoms with the help of a hearing specialist. With the correct strategy, you’ll be a lot less likely to lose touch with friends or become isolated from your family on account of your hearing loss symptoms. Those relationships will be maintained. And that can be exceedingly important.
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 just the opposite. The right hearing aid can increase your independence and self-sufficiency.
A hearing specialist can help you diagnose your hearing loss, manage your symptoms, and select the correct device for your needs.
In other words, if you suspect you have hearing loss, it’s time to give us a call!