People are more self-dependent than ever. Does your car need some repairs? Just watch that YouTube video. Is your sink clogged? YouTube video. Trying to learn cursive writing? YouTube… look, you get the point.
You can discover any information you might want to learn and self-learning has never been more accessible. So the real question is, are we finished needing specialists?
Not always. Take, for instance, your hearing aids. Let’s envision that you develop a need for these beneficial little devices. Should you race out to Walmart and pick up a pair of over-the-counter hearing aids? It sounds fairly effortless (and gives you the illusion of self-sufficiency), but there are a few significant drawbacks. In fact, consulting a hearing specialist for hearing aids can help make your hearing aids more effective and more comfortable.
Hearing loss symptoms
You may think that hearing loss symptoms are pretty self-evident. Things get harder to hear, right? While that may sometimes be the case, in other circumstances the symptoms can be less evident. In many instances, we don’t know what to watch out for and we miss the symptoms of hearing loss.
Here are a few of the most prevalent hearing loss symptoms:
- The persistent need to crank the volume up: Are you constantly turning the volume up on your television? Well, there’s your first common symptom. This one is often missed because it develops gradually over a long time period.
- Asking people to repeat themselves: You’re frequently needing people to repeat what they said. This is an indication of hearing loss, even if it feels like the volume is the issue. If you begin to encounter a great number of people who “mumble,” it might be your ears that are the issue.
- Headaches and tiredness: Your brain frequently has to work extra hard as it struggles to process sound. It needs to work extra hard to process information, it’s like squinting all the time, but with your ears. This can trigger chronic headaches and tiredness.
- Having a difficult 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 discussions. You should certainly pay attention if you observe this symptom because it’s a fairly strong sign of hearing loss.
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 hearing loss symptoms. Maybe you should go out to your local box-store and buy an over-the-counter hearing aid. Well, that would be sort of like purchasing some corrective glasses without determining your prescription. In most situations, it will be essential to have a detailed understanding of the precise nature of your condition.
That’s because hearing loss is a complex problem. It’s not as if the volume in your ear is merely turned down. Instead, as stereocilia in your ear get damaged, you often 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 most individuals don’t even notice it. The brain is very good at compensating for these things. That’s why a hearing exam is often required. This screening process can help you uncover hearing loss you might not even recognize you have. This will also allow you to understand which frequencies you’re beginning to lose (and because of this, you will be in a better position to manage symptoms.)
Advantages of working with 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 require.
But your hearing aids can be calibrated 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 tailor that device specifically for the wavelengths you need help with.
Here are some other benefits to seeing a hearing specialist:
- Adjusting your hearing aid more effectively is also something your hearing specialist can also help you with. This is critical to a quality experience with your devices.
- The ability to help you customize the overall fit of your hearing aid, ensuring your devices are comfortable and effectively working.
- When you have problems using or understanding how to use your hearing aid, your hearing specialist can help take you step-by-step through the process and make sure you comprehend how to get the most out of your devices.
- Your hearing specialist can make sure that your hearing aids last as long as possible by helping you comprehend and plan correct upkeep and maintenance.
Even if you get lucky enough to select the best hearing aids for you, if don’t have the advantage of a hearing specialist, your hearing experience will most likely be less than optimal.
In addition, hearing specialists will be able to help you control your hearing loss symptoms. With the right strategy, you’ll be a lot less likely to lose friends or become distant with family on account of your hearing loss symptoms. Those relationships will be preserved. And for the majority of people, that’s one of the most worthwhile 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. Quite the opposite, actually. Your self-sufficiency and independence will be increased by using the correct hearing aids.
Diagnosing your hearing loss, controlling your symptoms, and picking out the right hearing aids are all things that your hearing specialist will help you do.
So contact us so that we can help you address your hearing loss.
