People are becoming self-reliant more than ever before. Does your car need some repairs? 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.
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. Take, for instance, your hearing aids. Let’s imagine that you develop a need for these beneficial little devices. Does that mean you should just go out to the local pharmacy and get a set of over-the-counter hearing aids? It sounds fairly effortless (and gives you the illusion of self-sufficiency), but there are some substantial drawbacks. In reality, your hearing aids will be more comfortable and effective if you come in to get a consultation with us.
Hearing loss symptoms
The symptoms of hearing loss might seem straightforward, even obvious. You are unable to hear as well, right? Well, yes, but the symptoms of hearing loss can be much more variable, and far less obvious. Indeed, individuals frequently miss the symptoms of hearing loss because they don’t know what to watch out for.
Here are some of the most common hearing loss symptoms:
- Having to continually turn the volume up: Are you constantly turning the volume up on your television? Well, there’s your first common sign. This one is frequently missed because it progresses gradually over a long period of time.
- Needing people to repeat what they said: You may often ask people to repeat themselves. Even if it seems as if people are talking quietly, it’s actually hearing loss that’s the issue. You should consider whether it’s a problem with your ears if lots of individuals start to sound like their “mumbling”.
- Having a tough time hearing when it’s loud: Do you have a hard time keeping up with conversations when you go out to dinner with family or friends? You should definitely pay attention if you observe this symptom because it’s a pretty strong indication of hearing loss.
- Exhaustion and headaches: Your brain often 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. Exhaustion and chronic headaches can be the result.
Obviously, there are other signs of hearing loss besides these. Everyone’s experience will be a bit different. But you should definitely come see us for a consultation if you are noticing any of these symptoms.
Can a diagnosis be useful?
So, you are recognizing 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 sometimes. But knowing more about your condition is absolutely indispensable.
Everybody’s experience of hearing loss is distinct and complex. It’s not like the volume in your ear is simply turned down. Instead, as stereocilia in your ear get damaged, you usually lose your hearing in parts at a time, that is, you normally lose the ability to hear high-frequency or low-frequency sounds first.
And it often goes undetected. Compensating for these types of changes is something that the brain is extremely good at. Because of this, it’s usually necessary to get a hearing test. You might not even recognize you have hearing loss but a hearing assessment can expose any you may have. This will also allow you to understand which frequencies you’re starting to lose (and be better capable of managing your symptoms because of this.)
Benefits of working with a hearing specialist
Matching your hearing requirements 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 tailored to your requirements. We will help you pick the ideal device for your requirements and we will tune it to boost the particular frequency that you’re having trouble hearing.
Here are a few other advantages to seeing a hearing specialist:
- The ability to help you customize the overall fit of your hearing aid, ensuring your devices are comfortable and work effectively.
- 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.
- Your hearing specialist will help you comprehend how to get the most out of your hearing aids if you’re having difficulty understanding how to best use them.
- Adjusting your hearing aid more successfully is also something your hearing specialist can also help you with. This is critical to a quality experience with your devices.
Without the benefit of a hearing specialist, your hearing aid experience will likely be less optimal, even if you do happen to select the best possible over-the-counter hearing aid for your symptoms.
In addition, hearing specialists will be able to help you manage your hearing loss symptoms. Losing touch with friends and family because of hearing loss will be much less likely if you take the right approach. Those relationships will be maintained. And for the majority of people, that’s one of the most significant parts of life.
Everything doesn’t always need to be DIY
It doesn’t mean you’re less self-sufficient simply because you require some help with hearing aids. As a matter of fact, it’s actually the opposite. The correct hearing aid can increase your independence and self-sufficiency.
A hearing specialist can help you diagnose your hearing loss, control your symptoms, and select the right device for your requirements.
So contact us so that we can help you address your hearing loss.
