You aren’t alone if you think hearing loss is a condition impacting your life. About 20% of Americans report hearing loss, or approximately 48 million people. There are several different courses you can take, but the first step in finding solutions is to schedule a hearing test and seek an audiologist to guide you along your path to better hearing.
Early treatment is key
Diagnosing and treating hearing loss is essential to maintaining a healthy and social lifestyle once your hearing loss begins to make itself known. It’s rarely the case that we wake up one day and know that our hearing is gone. Because our hearing abilities can fade slowly over time, your symptoms may have begun when listening became effortful, and miscommunications arose. It may have sounded as though everyone you spoke with started mumbling instead of enunciating their words.
Quickly intervening in a decline in your hearing capabilities is the best way to get you back on track in your hearing life. As your ears become less able to hear everyday sounds, the pathways established in communicating these sounds into meaning in the brain become less clear. It’s a matter of use. Think of it as a well-worn path. If often traveled, the path itself is the directional marker. However, if a path isn’t used as frequently, it becomes overgrown and more challenging to traverse. Allowing our ears to be connected as intended with our brain allows for less lag time in training the brain to adapt to a new way of hearing.
Trust a dedicated Audiology practice for your hearing needs
There are many options for scheduling a hearing test; you can even accomplish this at a big-box store while shopping for milk or eggs. However, only an audiologist can give you a thorough examination, and accurate diagnosis that you can be assured is medically sound.
Audiologists are licensed health professionals trained in evidence-based treatment of hearing, balance, and other auditory disorders for people of all ages. They’ve undergone rigorous training and have committed a considerable amount of their resources to assist people on their path to comprehensive hearing health. And because they are medical professionals, you can trust that what is being recommended is the best possible product or treatment because their priority is your health rather than a sales target or moving a particular product off the shelf.
Customized care
Audiologists are educated in the most current healthy hearing technology and are dedicated to maintaining their continuing professional education throughout their careers. This goes a long way in ensuring that your treatment is the best available.
Our hearing needs and our lifestyles are unique. Only someone with the breadth and depth of industry knowledge can help guide you to the singular solution for your hearing life. And a well-trained audiologist will work with you to find the best solution for you.
A holistic approach to hearing health
An audiologist will not look only at your hearing and fit you with the most appealing hearing aid. They’ll give you an honest diagnosis and prescribed treatment that encompasses all of your medical health. Our hearing is an essential sense at the forefront of our lives. For that reason, we tend to look at it in isolation, where we can forget that all the systems of our bodies are connected and intertwined.
Audiologists have years of training that encourages a holistic view of our hearing. How is your hearing loss affecting and affecting your whole lifestyle and medical health? These are questions only an audiologist can answer.
Beyond hearing aids
Loss of hearing is not a quick fix. Solutions exist, but a quick hearing aid purchase without education, research, and discussion is probably not the most effective route. Instead, an audiologist will take the time to work with you beyond your initial diagnosis and hearing aid selection. Because they’re so knowledgeable about the whole field of hearing health and communication disorders, they’ll be able to recommend or suggest additional treatments or programs that will continue to improve your hearing life beyond a quick fix. It’s an investment in yourself and your life.
If you are looking for an audiologist, look no further than us! We are proud to provide audiological services to our patients. Contact us today for a consultation.