Why You Should Choose an Audiologist for Your Hearing Health Care

In this Internet age, many of us go online to self-diagnose anything from a strange rash to a throbbing pain in our leg. While access to medical information online is important, most of these sites do recommend that you visit a medical professional if your symptoms persist.

Hearing loss is no different. While we can spend hours online looking through the signs of hearing loss and possible treatments, nothing should replace a visit to the audiologist for a hearing test. It is especially important with hearing loss, as it is a highly personalized condition. We all hear differently, and therefore, our diagnosis and treatment will be diverse.

As the third most common medical condition in the US, hearing loss affects 20% of the population. People of all ages may experience hearing loss, though it is most common among people age 65 or older. If you, or someone you love, are experiencing hearing loss, the best thing you can do for your health is to visit an audiologist for a hearing test.

Trained in the science of hearing, balance, and related disorders, audiologists provide diagnosis and treatment for hearing loss and other hearing-related conditions. If your hearing loss is related to other medical conditions, or if tinnitus (“ringing of the ear”) is present, audiologists will be able to identify and make specific recommendations for treatment. Unlike big-box stores, where employees are only trained to sell hearing aids, audiologists are trained to provide patient-centered, holistic services. When you visit an audiologist, you are addressing your hearing loss in a way that benefits your overall health and well-being.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) notes that “hearing and balance disorders are complex with medical, psychological, physical, social, educational, and employment implications.”

As a medical condition, hearing loss has the potential to affect different areas of your overall health. If left untreated, hearing loss could adversely affect your emotional and physical health. Untreated hearing loss makes speech recognition a great challenge; over time, you may find that untreated hearing loss affects your important interpersonal relationships, from friends to family to colleagues. On the job, untreated hearing loss could interfere with communication and productivity, which over time might affect your earning power. As hearing connects you to the sounds of your world, untreated hearing loss could potentially affect your personal safety. Untreated hearing loss has also been linked to an increased risk for developing dementia, anxiety, stress, and depression. Over time, difficulties with hearing may cause you to retreat from social events, leading to a sense of isolation.

With this wide range of consequences of untreated hearing loss, it’s important to seek the best possible care for your hearing health. Scheduling an annual hearing test with an audiologist at HearCare Rhode Island ensures that you will be on top of your hearing health, which brings significant benefits to your overall well-being.

Because hearing is a highly personalized experience – after all, we all experience sounds differently – it is important to seek personalized health care for your hearing needs. While audiologists provide an important scientific context to your hearing loss experience, we also focus on providing personalized hearing health care to meet your specific needs.

The New York Times has reported that “Traditionally, hearing aids have been sold through professionals who also fit and adjust the devices as part of the overall cost. The system, however, leaves room for plenty of inept or even greedy providers to take the reins.” Unlike commercial hearing aid sellers, our goal is not the profit line. As dedicated health care professionals, we are committed to making sure that you receive the best hearing health care that meets your specific needs.

When providing care, we take into account important aspects of your lifestyle, employment, and personal interests. Through a series of hearing tests and a physical examination, our audiologists will review your results with you before moving forward. If treatment is necessary, our team will work with you to find the best solution to meet your specific hearing needs.

Have you been experiencing changes in your hearing? Take the first step to improving your hearing health by scheduling an appointment with an audiologist at HearCare Rhode Island today.