When to See An Audiologist

Are you saying “huh?” a lot? Or do you often ask people to repeat themselves? Or, perhaps you’re used to blaring the television or radio. Do you miss what women and children are saying often? Or do you have difficulty following conversations in noisy environments, such as restaurants or parties? If any of these scenarios sound familiar, it is likely you are living with undiagnosed hearing loss.

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), roughly 28.8 million American adults could benefit from using hearing aids. These individuals need to be diagnosed and treated by a hearing healthcare professional such as an audiologist.

What is an audiologist?

An audiologist is a hearing healthcare professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating hearing loss, tinnitus and other balance disorders. Audiologists typically have advanced degrees in audiology and participate in continuing education in an effort to stay up-to-date with the best practices of their field. How do you know if you should see an audiologist? Consider some of the following scenarios. If one sounds familiar to you, it’s time to find an audiologist near you.

When to see an audiologist

• Trouble hearing: If you answered “yes” to one of the examples listed at the start of this article, you’re having trouble hearing specific tones and sounds at certain decibels, of volume. It is important to see an audiologist. They will perform a series of tests on you to determine the type and degree of hearing loss you experience in each ear. From the results, called an audiogram, the audiologist will be able to help you choose the hearing aid or other assistive listening device that will benefit you the most.
• Excessive earwax: Primary care physicians will be able to tell if you have excess earwax. Since cleaning out your ears with a cotton swab is a big no-no in the audiology world, it is important to visit an audiologist to have professional help removing excessive earwax. Trying to do it yourself can actually make the problem worse, as pushing earwax with a pointed object such as a cotton swab can actually cause earwax impaction. An audiologist will be able to professional clean out excess earwax.
• Tinnitus: If you’re one of the 26 million Americans who experiences a ringing in the ear, you may want to visit the audiologist. Tinnitus is described as a constant ringing, buzzing or whooshing in one or both ears. If the tinnitus is debilitating, it is important to visit an audiologist. They will be able to determine the cause of the tinnitus and be able to recommend adequate solutions.