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? Again with the YouTube. Want to learn how to do calligraphy? YouTube… look, you get the point.
You can find any information you might want to learn and self-learning has never been more available. So the real question is, are we finished needing specialists?
Not always. Hearing aids are a good example. Let’s picture that you develop a need for these beneficial 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 may make you feel self-sufficient and sound like the easy option, there are a few real downsides. As a matter of fact, visiting a hearing specialist for hearing aids can help make your hearing aids more reliable and more comfortable.
What are the symptoms of hearing loss?
You may think that hearing loss symptoms are pretty self-evident. Things get harder to hear, right? While that might sometimes be the truth, in other circumstances the symptoms can be less evident. Certainly, people frequently miss the symptoms of hearing loss because they’re unsure about what to look for.
Some of the most prevalent symptoms of hearing loss include the following:
- Trouble hearing conversations in loud settings: Do you have a tough time keeping up with conversations when you go out to dinner with family or friends? You should definitely pay attention if you detect this symptom because it’s a fairly powerful sign of hearing loss.
- Headaches and exhaustion: Typically, 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 lead to chronic headaches and fatigue.
- The persistent need to crank the volume up: Is the volume on your television continuously going up? Well, that’s a sign of hearing loss. This is one of the more apparent ones, but it tends to develop so gradually that it’s often missed.
- Requesting that people repeat themselves: You’re often needing people to repeat what they said. This is an indication of hearing loss, even if it seems like the volume is the issue. If you start to experience a great many individuals who “mumble,” it might be your ears that are the problem.
Needless to say, these symptoms aren’t always the only symptoms of hearing loss. Everybody’s experience will be slightly different. But if you are noticing any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to visit us to get a diagnosis.
Can a diagnosis be useful?
So, you have the symptoms of hearing loss. Why not just go to the store and purchase an over-the-counter hearing aid? Well, that would be kind of like buying some corrective glasses without knowing your prescription. In most circumstances, it will be essential to have a strong understanding of the precise nature of your condition.
That’s because hearing loss is a complex issue. It’s not as if the volume in your ear is simply turned down. Actually, people tend to lose their hearing in particular frequency ranges as the stereocilia in the ear become damaged.
And it often goes unnoticed. Compensating for these kinds 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 test can expose any you might have. This will also help you know which frequencies you’re beginning to lose (and as a result, you will be in a better position to manage symptoms.)
Advantages of going to a hearing specialist
When you go and purchase 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 when you go see a hearing specialist, your hearing aids can be customized to your needs. We will help you select the ideal device for your requirements and we will calibrate it to boost the specific frequency that you’re having trouble hearing.
Here are some other advantages to seeing a hearing specialist:
- Your hearing specialist can also help you understand how to program your hearing aid effectively. This is crucial to a good experience with your devices.
- Certainty, that your device will be comfortable by getting a custom fitting.
- Your hearing specialist can ensure that your hearing aids last as long as possible by helping you understand and plan proper upkeep and maintenance.
- Your hearing specialist can help you comprehend 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 pick 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 optimal.
You will also be better able to manage your hearing loss symptoms with the assistance of a hearing specialist. Feeling isolated from family and friends because of hearing loss will be much less likely if you take the correct approach. Those connections will be preserved. And that can be incredibly important.
Everything doesn’t always need to be DIY
It doesn’t mean you’re less self-sufficient simply because you require some assistance with hearing aids. As a matter of fact, it’s actually the opposite. The correct hearing aid can increase your independence and self-sufficiency.
Diagnosing your hearing loss, managing your symptoms, and choosing the correct 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.