Having a hearing test is nothing you need to worry about; it won’t hurt, and it will help. If you think you might be experiencing hearing loss, no matter how mild it may seem, then booking an appointment with an audiologist is a crucial step to take; it’s far better to know about any hearing loss you might have so you can do something about it than it is to ignore the problem and let it cause issues in your life.
Yet making this appointment, although an easy thing to do, is not something that everyone is comfortable with. A hearing test is not something that takes place every day, and not knowing quite what will happen can be a concern. Once you know more about your hearing test, and specifically about the helpful information you can learn from it, you’ll be much happier to make that much-needed appointment.
Whether you have hearing loss
Of course, the main reason for having a hearing test is to discover whether you have hearing loss or not. Even if you are already sure that you are experiencing hearing loss, having the professional diagnosis confirmed will be useful; you can then work out what you will do next and you can find out exactly what your options are. You may require hearing aids, for example, in which case you’ll need to make an appointment for them to be fitted.
As well as finding out whether you actually do have hearing loss or not, you’ll also be able to learn what type of hearing loss it is and how severe it is. There are various types of hearing loss, some of which comes from a hereditary condition and some which comes from damage to the ear – they may require different treatments. As for the severity, hearing loss can be anything from mild to profound and again, the severity you are experiencing will direct your next move.
Whether you experience other conditions
As we’ve mentioned above, some hearing loss stems from a hereditary condition, and although you can’t prevent this, you can often treat it. However, not all hearing loss is to do with genetics, and other reasons, including medication side effects, earwax build-up and ear infections, can all contribute to hearing loss in any form.
Your hearing test will determine whether it could be any of these issues that are causing your specific hearing loss. If this is the case, you can then work out the next step to repair the problem and put your hearing right again.
How to treat your conditions
Once you know what condition you have in terms of your hearing loss, you can also learn the best ways to treat it. Depending on what has caused the hearing loss, your treatment will be different. Hearing aids are one option and medication for an infection is another way to go, although you will need to see a medical doctor for help with this since audiologists do not prescribe medication.
How to protect your ears
Although treatment for your hearing health conditions is vital, it’s just as important to know how to protect your ears and your hearing in the future. Your audiologist should be able to give you plenty of help and advice regarding how to do this. Taking this advice on board means that, even if your hearing has been damaged in the past, you should be able to protect it going forward.
