Hearing Center: When You Need To See a Doctor Immediately

When most people think of a hearing center or the issues surrounding auditory loss, they don't think in terms of an emergency. They either think of those unfortunate individuals who were born deaf, or those people who gradually lost some of their sensory acuteness as their grew older. Neither situation, obviously, warrants a call to 911. But loss doesn't always happen that way. Sometimes it happens all at once or is a symptom of something very serious. If you've recently experienced a loss in how well you can hear, these are some of the accompanying signs that may mean you need to get in touch with a doctor right away. Injury If you have acquired acute auditory loss associated with an injury to the head, you need to call 911 immediately. This can be a sign that something serious has occurred. In any event, whenever you suffer an injury to the head—no matter how minor—it is worth being seen by a professional, whether or not your hearing has suffered. People have been known to suffer concussions without ever blacking out. If you continue going about your life without being seen, your brain could be bleeding and swelling without your knowing about it. Be overly cautious and see a doctor. Accompanying Symptoms If auditory loss occurs suddenly and is accompanied by some of these symptoms, you need to see a doctor immediately. Facial droop is one such symptom, and can be one of the most obvious signs of a stroke. Likewise, any numbness in your face or body can be a sign that something traumatic has happened in your brain. Also take note of any changes in your vision. A sudden attack of blurriness or double vision can be a symptom of something serious. These are not symptoms you want to ignore while you wait to make an appointment with a hearing center. They need to be addressed quickly. Earwax While you don't need to call 911 when you suffer auditory loss that you suspect is being caused by earwax, you should make an appointment when you can. There are a number of home remedies for removing earwax, but they may not be enough. In some cases, these remedies (such as candling) are not only worthless, but can actually cause further damage. As any hearing center can tell you, people tend to be less than cautious when dealing with their ears. They jam Q-tips in there, clean wax out with car keys, and do a number of other foolish things that could easily result in injury. Don't go this route. See a doctor and get earwax removed safely.