One of the most common conditions among the elderly population is hearing loss. If you suspect you might be experiencing hearing loss, the first thing should be to analyze your behavior and talk to your family and friends. It’s crucial to make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. After the initial checkup, the doctor might want to do some additional tests to reinforce the diagnosis.
If you’re worried you might have hearing problems, we’ve got you covered. Here, we’ll tell you how to get help and what you should pay close attention to. That way, you’ll be ready for your appointment and get all the necessary care and support.
Recognizing the Symptoms
For most adults, the progression of hearing loss and symptoms extend over time, and one of their family members or friends is likely to notice changes. The person is often unaware of the changes, especially if they stop hearing birds, microwave beep, or something they’re used to.
Usually, people complain about how they can’t hear or comprehend someone’s speech in places like restaurants or reception. At first, they think it’s the environment, and once they experience it while talking to someone one on one, that’s when the problem becomes more obvious.
The person experiencing hearing loss will notice some difficulty talking to people, but they often think that they’re tired and disregard it as something that will pass. However, once they see that while others talk, they can’t understand everything, that’s when they might seek help from a professional.
Unfortunately, in some cases, it takes years before a patient acknowledges the hearing loss and asks for professional use.
Prepare for the Appointment with an Audiologist
Before you go to the doctor’s, make sure to write everything that might be related to your new condition. Think about the symptoms you’re experiencing and whether you’re noticing the same ones in one or both ears. Write down everything that might be relevant, from your cleaning routines to your phone ringtone or alarms’ loudness.
Also, ask your family and friends whether they’ve noticed some changes regarding your hearing. Maybe you’ve started talking louder, or you can’t understand all their conversations.
Lastly, write down your work history and include all jobs that exposed you to increased noise levels or someone in the family who experiences hearing loss.
The First Appointment
When you get to your doctor, they’ll ask you many questions about your symptoms and how they affect your everyday life and routines. One of the first symbols of hearing issues is when you have trouble following the conversation or when it seems that others are constantly mumbling.
Diagnosis
Hearing loss is diagnosed based on the person’s history, behavior, and audiological examination results. An audiologist will check your ear, nose, and throat alongside ENT to check whether you’re experiencing any pain in those areas.
Another important thing is whether you’re experiencing a sudden hearing loss, do you have dizziness or anything unusual in your ear canal. Once you do the test, it will become clear how much you can hear and what kind of hearing aid you need.
Nowadays, there’s a lot of ways to continue working with the right hearing aids. Also, if you get a hearing aid from the best hearing aids brands, you’ll be able to hear other people and even enjoy music again. And that will improve the quality of your life for sure.
Choosing the Best Hearing Aid
If your audiologist recommended hearing aids, the next step in your treatment is to find a comfortable hearing aid that you’ll be able to get used to quickly and use every day. A hearing instrument specialist will measure your ear, try out a few different solutions and provide you with detailed instructions on using it.
If you have a friend or a family member, it’s recommended that they learn how to use the hearing aid as well if there’s a need to help or adjust the sound quality. You can even get one as a present, especially if your family wants to help you financially.
Support Is the Key
When you experience hearing loss and start having oral communication problems, some of your relationships might be seriously affected. That’s why it’s important to surround yourself with the people that love you and understand what you’re going through.
Once you start getting used to the hearing aid, it might take a few days or weeks to get used to it. This is a slow process, and you should take your time until you’re comfortable going back to work and resume other social activities. Thanks to technological improvements, today, it’s possible to have a healthy life regardless of your body’s changes.
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