4 Reasons to See an Audiologist

For many of us, the idea of visiting an audiologist is a new experience. Few of us attend these appointments on a routine basis, which means you may be unfamiliar with the process. After all, our hearing is as vital as our eyesight, which most of us have screened on an annual basis.

You may reach a point in your life where you find yourself contemplating a visit to an audiologist. Below are four of the best reasons to make an appointment for your hearing to be checked.

1. You suspect you have hearing loss

The most obvious reason to visit an audiologist is that you suspect your hearing capacity has diminished. It’s important to note that hearing loss can happen at any age. If you have any signs of hearing loss, a visit to an audiologist could help ascertain the reality of the situation. That’s true whether you’re 17 or 70!

The early signs of hearing loss tend to be quite subtle, such as needing the TV volume to be higher than it used to. You can also ask your friends and family if they think you should visit an audiologist. Often, the people we love are the first to notice there may be an issue with our hearing.

2. You want to approach your health in a holistic way

The health of your ears and your ability to hear are an integral part of your overall health and enjoyment of life. If you want to maximize your health, visiting a specialist professional who can check current function and guide you on future good care is generally considered to be a good idea. Many of the issues people experience with their ears and hearing are preventable. A discussion with an audiologist can help ascertain exactly what you personally may need to do to ensure ear health in the future.

3. You want to ensure your ear-protection arrangements are sufficient

If you work in a particularly noisy environment, you will be aware of the need to protect your ears with the right noise-blocking equipment. However, it’s always worth having your hearing checked frequently, just to ensure that your equipment is protecting your hearing as you expect. If it isn’t, this is definitely an issue you want to know about sooner rather than later.

4. You are taking certain medications

It’s a little-known fact, but some medications have the potential to damage your hearing. You will usually see a warning for this on the medication label. It will either mention hearing loss specifically, or use the technical term “ototoxicity.” If you are on any of these medications, a regular visit to the audiologist for hearing tests is a great way to ensure you are not experiencing detrimental side effects.

By visiting an audiologist, you can ensure that your hearing and ear health is functioning exactly as it should be. Even if there is an issue, you’re in the right place to find a solution, and your audiologist will be able to guide you on the next steps in your journey.