Hearing loss is very common among all age groups and ranges from mild to profound. If you have noticed changes in your hearing lately and you are over 50, it might be time to pay an audiologist a visit. An audiologist can test your hearing and offer advice.
What is Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss means a reduction in someone’s capacity to hear. It can be age-related or caused by exposure to loud noise, sometimes called noise-induced hearing loss. Most people associate hearing loss with old age, but it can affect people at any stage of life; tinnitus is one example.
One of the main reasons people start to lose their hearing is because of damage or loss to tiny hairs in the inner ear called cilia. These tiny hairs play a key role in sending sound vibrations to the brain for translation, but they can disappear with age and become damaged by noise exposure.
What Causes Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss has many causes, including high blood pressure, diabetes, infections and noise exposure. Many people notice a change in their hearing capacity when they are over 50 years old, but hearing issues can affect younger people if they are working in a noisy environment.
Other causes of hearing loss include infections, genetic variations, brain injuries and other medical conditions. Some of these will cause short-term hearing loss, while others will be long-term and more serious. Consult an audiologist about any hearing issues you encounter.
Treatments for Hearing Loss
Treatments for hearing loss equate to the type of hearing loss experienced; mild tinnitus might be treated with some breathing exercises, while age-related hearing loss might require a hearing device. Whatever hearing loss you experience, treatment can improve your life quality.
An audiologist is the best person to consult about a hearing condition; they can test you in the office and give you professional advice about the best course of treatment to restore your hearing and improve your life quality. They can also show you how to use a hearing device.
When to Visit an Audiologist
Visiting an audiologist can be even more intimidating than visiting a medical professional because you don’t know what to expect. In reality, an audiologist is friendly, and the visits should be short and productive. Contact an audiologist if your hearing is affecting your life quality and wellbeing.
Whether you need advice or a solution to a severe hearing issue, talking to an audiologist is always a sensible idea. In a few minutes, an audiologist can give you some practical tips on how to resolve your hearing difficulties yourself or book you in for a hearing test.
If you have some mild hearing loss, you might be reluctant to visit an audiologist; you might think you are wasting their time and downplay the issues. If a hearing condition is in your awareness and affecting your life quality, there is no reason not to contact an audiologist and seek advice.
