Diagnosing And Solving Mild Hearing Loss Issues
If you have been having troubles with hearing everyday speech and other important sounds, you may be suffering with mild to moderate hearing loss. Here are some steps to help you get the correct diagnosis and solve the problem.
Signs of Hearing Loss
There are many classic signs of early hearing loss. First of all, higher frequency sounds may become difficult to hear. You might not be able to hear women and children's voices as clearly as men's for instance. Another issue occurs when you can't distinguish the sounds you need to hear from the background noise around them. Tinnitus, or ringing of the ears, can also signal early hearing problems. Finally, if you've noticed that you keep inching the volume of your television up, you might be suffering from hearing loss.
Visiting an Audiologist
Seeing an audiologist is the best way to get your hearing loss diagnosed formally. Before you go, take some time to write down the hearing loss symptoms you've been having. Write down the frequency and severity of symptoms. This can help your audiologist understand the contexts where you're having trouble hearing, which will allow them to make great suggestions on hearing aids if you need them.
The audiologist will do a thorough hearing exam to assess the severity of hearing problems, whether the problem exists in one or both ears, and if there are any special circumstances of your hearing loss (such as a hearing loss that occurs in a certain frequency range). They may recommend hearing aids as a next step.
Hearing Aid Tips
If you need to get your first pair of hearing aids, know that there is a wide variety of styles and features to choose from. Look for hearing aids that fit naturally in your ear canal or behind the ear. Trying on a variety of styles can help. Many people with a mild amount of hearing loss like behind the ear hearing aids, because they are easy to reposition and they allow the air to flow through the ear almost naturally.
Depending on your particular interests, you may want to ask your doctor to help you choose hearing aids with specialized features for those activities. The hearing aids of a music lover will be different from those of an athlete. Talk with your audiologist about the contexts that you'll be using your hearing aids most, so that they can help you choose a feature profile to match your lifestyle.
For more information, contact companies like Desert Knolls Hearing Center.