Hearing Center: Advocating for Your Own Ear Health

If you've visited a hearing center and come away with the unfortunate knowledge that you have suffered auditory loss, your first step should be to visit your ear, nose, and throat doctor and have a full medical evaluation. The causes of loss can be wide ranging and aren't always confined to the loss of sensory ability. They can sometimes be a symptom of a much larger problem and one that should be addressed as soon as possible. Even if it is an isolated issue, it is far from a small one. You need to know what to do next and what your options are. Here are some questions you should resolve while learning more. How advanced is my auditory loss? If you've learned from a hearing center or a doctor that you're suffering from some degree of impairment, it's important to know how extensive the damage is. This question can not only give you a better idea of what you're dealing with, but it can help you determine what kinds of listening devices to look into and how much amplification you need when you get one. Erring on either side of the equation can cause problems. What type of loss do I have? Auditory loss comes in two different varieties. Conductive and sensorineural. Many patients are suffering from a mixture of the two. What type of loss you are suffering from will play a big role in what kinds of treatments are available. If you are dealing with conductive loss, there may be treatments—whether medical or surgical—that can help you overcome the problem entirely. If sensorineural, you may need to visit a hearing center and see what types of assistive devices you can get to help you cope with permanent damage. Are both ears affected? While many people assume that auditory loss affects both ears equally, this is rarely the case. In fact, even in a person unaffected by such problems, there are usually hearing discrepancies between the ears. Make sure you ask a hearing center or your doctor whether or not your auditory loss has affected both ears, or only one or the other. You may have even experienced loss in both, but to differing degrees. The answers to these questions can help you move forward and get the right types of treatment or assistance. What type of listening devices should I look into? A good hearing center will be able to answer all of your questions regarding assistive devices. All listening aids perform differently, if—at their root—they are very similar. Using your lifestyle and needs, consultants can help you find something perfect for your situation.