When Should You Visit an Audiologist?

When should you visit an audiologist is a question in most of the minds as many times we tend to ignore symptoms due to some reason or the other . Despite the fact that hearing loss is the third most common health problem today, many people disregard minor problems with their ears and do not know when they should be visiting an audiologist. Audiologists are highly qualified professionals who specialize in all aspects of ear health, hearing loss prevention and treatment.

Because hearing health is often overlooked, it can be challenging to determine when you should visit an audiologist. Consider the following four questions when deciding whether to call the audiologist or not.

Do you suffer from excessive earwax?

Earwax isn’t bad for your ears in small amounts; it actually helps to protect your inner ear from dirt and infection. However, if you begin to notice excessive wax in your ears, it might be a good idea to get them professionally cleaned, as this can affect your hearing. Do not attempt to clean the wax out of your ears yourself; many earwax removal products will actually do more harm than good. Ear cleaning and earwax removal are services offered by your audiologist.

When did you last have a checkup?

Hearing health is so widely disregarded that most people will go for years and years without a check-up, only resorting to contacting an audiologist when something goes wrong. You should get your ears checked out and your hearing tested once a year. Hearing loss usually develops so gradually that you won’t notice until it has started to have a seriously detrimental effect on your quality of life. Regular check-ups will mean that any problems or minor dips in hearing ability are picked up early enough for something to be done to prevent further damage.

Have you experienced sudden hearing loss?

If you recently experienced a very sudden decline in your hearing ability, you should seek the advice of an audiologist immediately. If the hearing loss is accompanied by pain or other symptoms, schedule a visit with your audiologist. Sudden hearing loss is not always caused by infection; it may be temporary, however there are a number of serious, otherwise undetectable conditions that could contribute to it; so don’t take any chances and get it checked out.

Is your child displaying behavioral problems?

If your child is displaying behavioral problems in class or poor academic performance, it may be worth getting their hearing tested. Hearing loss can develop at any age and it is the most common birth defect in the United States, though it is not always detected as early as it should be. Not being able to hear properly in class and the social frustrations associated with hearing issues could lead your child to act out. If you are at all in doubt, book a consultation with an audiologist.

These are only a few of the scenarios that indicate you may need to see an audiologist. If you suspect something isn’t right about your hearing health, don’t hesitate to schedule a visit as soon as possible.