Your First Steps If You Think You Have Hearing Loss

The signs of hearing loss can often come on slowly, as our hearing can change gradually, meaning it can be hard to notice them at times. For that reason, if you think your hearing has suffered at all, lately, then it’s worth taking the time to check it out. What should your first steps be if you suspect you have hearing loss, and how should you prefer for the difference it can make to your life?

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Know the signs

You might have gotten some idea that you’re not hearing as well as you used to, but if you are seeking some help, it can be a good idea to be able to explain the differences in your hearing. There are a lot of signs of hearing loss that can point you towards a diagnosis. Having difficulty understanding speech as you used to, having to tell people to repeat themselves, having extra difficulty hearing in crowded areas, or having to turn the volume up frequently on your TV or radio, to the point that others take notice of it, can all be signs.

Get the answers you need

Once you have the suspicion that you are, indeed, dealing with hearing loss, then the step should be to make an appointment with an audiologist. You want to arrange a hearing test, in which you are going to have your ears checked with a physical examination, as well as a round of tests that are designed to measure your range of hearing. At the end of the test, you should have an audiogram to show you your effective hearing pitches and ranges, which can help your audiologist diagnose hearing loss, as well as potential causes.

Making improvements to your hearing

If you are diagnosed with hearing loss, then treatment comes next. There are a few different options to help those with hearing loss, but hearing aids are by far the most common. Modern hearing devices are highly sophisticated technology, with brands like Phonak hearing aids able to provide a wide range of features, such as waterproofing, directional microphones, Bluetooth connectivity, and more. Your audiologist should help you figure out which hearing aids are best suited to your needs, as well, so you don’t need to navigate a new and strange market of products alone.

Protecting your hearing

Once you’ve been diagnosed with hearing loss, that isn’t the end of the story. Hearing loss can be exacerbated and can get more severe if you don’t take care of your hearing and protect it. Primarily, you want to protect it from exposure to loud noise. Accessories like Pro Ears hearing protection can protect you from loud noises, coming with decibel ratings to show you how much they can reduce your exposure to loud noises. You typically want to avoid being exposed to noises that are louder than 85 decibels.

Thankfully, modern technology and advances in audiology make gradual hearing loss a lot easier to deal with than they have been in the past. Hopefully, the tips above help show precisely that.