5 Symptoms that Could Point to Hearing Problems
Audiology isn’t all about fitting or conducting hearing tests for hearing aids. The ears are a little more nuanced than that and you may need to see an audiologist for a few other reasons. Audiologists are clinicians who specialize in ear problems. This means that they are the people who are most likely to be able to assist if you have any concern at all. With that in mind, here are the four most common indications you need to see an audiologist.
Your ears hurt
One of the toughest feelings is undoubtedly ear pain as it can throw you off balance as well as trigger stress. Compacted wax is the most prevalent cause for ear pain. This is when you have a hard wax build-up that pushes against your eardrum. It’s far from a pleasant experience, but an audiologist who can extract the wax can easily help. Compacted ear wax can be caused by too much wax created by your ears, but can also be caused by too much cleaning or using a cotton bud in your ears.
You’re experiencing ringing of the ears
You can also experience your ears ringing, too. While it is perfectly common for this to happen for a brief period of time, a more severe problem, like hearing loss or tinnitus, may be at hand if it persists in the long term. An audiologist will be able to provide you with the medication you need, such as a masking device, tinnitus treatment or bluetooth hearing aids.
Your hearing has depleted
A loud noise or trauma to the ear can result in hearing loss, but it can also be a long process that you barely notice to begin with. Either way, you can seek care from an audiologist as soon as you find an issue, who would be able to evaluate the condition and recommend an appropriate treatment plan. Many people know that when they grow older, they lose their hearing, but there are a few indicators that you can look out for:
You keep turning up the television
During conversations, you mishear sentences
You have to ask family and friends to repeat themselves
You find higher pitches are harder to hear
Friends and family have commented on your hearing loss
Regular dizziness or balance problems
If you’ve been experiencing dizziness that doesn’t quickly subside, you may be experiencing inner ear problems. This is usually caused by a buildup of wax in the inner ear, which can make you feel off balance. Your audiologist will be able to look deep into your ears and diagnose the cause of your balance and dizziness problems. You may be booked in to have your ears drained after softening the wax with drops prescribed by your audiologist.
You’re experiencing regular ear infections
Finally, ear infections can cause ear pain and ringing, and if they occur regularly, it may point to a greater problem at play that needs medical attention from your audiologist.
If you’re experiencing any of these problems, book an appointment with your audiologist today.