What Makes a Hearing Specialist Essential for Your Hearing Health?

woman smiling at her professional hearing examination

An audiologist is essential if you want to maintain your health. If you don’t visit your audiologist regularly, then you may find that you experience hearing loss without even realizing it. If you haven’t been keeping up with your audiologist appointments lately and want to do something about that or if you want to know if visiting a hearing specialist is the right thing to do, then take a look below to see how they could help.

They Offer a Wide Range of Services

Apart from diagnosing hearing loss, an audiologist offers a spectrum of services aimed at ensuring optimal hearing. These services include customizing and fitting hearing aids according to individual needs. Additionally, audiologists provide counseling to assist in adapting to life with hearing aids, guiding individuals through the process for a more comfortable experience. An audiologist may recommend hearing aids like behind the ear (BTE), in the ear (ITE) and in the canal (ITC).

They Can Pinpoint Overlooked Conditions

You may think that, if you have an issue with your hearing, you can simply complete an online test to find out how severe this is. Unfortunately, this can pose a risk to your hearing health. A problem is that you may receive a hearing aid that doesn’t fit properly, or that doesn’t enhance the quality of sound you’re hearing. Hearing aids require a custom fitting, and they also need adjusting so you can hear sound, optimally.

If you don’t visit your audiologist and you suspect that you have a hearing problem, then there could be an underlying condition causing your hearing loss. It may be that you have a traumatic brain injury or even otosclerosis. Meniere’s disease is also very important to get diagnosed. If you don’t visit your audiologist, conditions like this may be overlooked, and you may not have the right treatment for you tailored for your specific needs.

They Have Serious Training when it Comes to Hearing

Audiologists are professionals who identify and treat balance and hearing issues. They have to obtain a master’s degree from a university and some even go on to obtain a doctorate in audiology. In addition to undergoing medical school, they also have to achieve board certification so they can get the accreditation they need to serve the public. As part of their licensing, they have to undergo continual training so they can stay up to date on the latest practices. Many are certified by associations, such as the American Speech and Language Association, and have to get a license so they can practice in their state. All of this training helps them to provide their patients with a very high standard of care while enabling them to diagnose any underlying health issues.

They Can Support your Mental Health

If you have hearing loss, you may find it difficult to pick up on certain aspects of a conversation. You might also find it way difficult to keep up with things or that you often have to ask people to repeat things again. As time goes on, you may be reluctant to start conversations, or you may be concerned that someone is going to talk to you and that you won’t be able to reply.

All of this can affect your mental health, as you may find that you are not able to socialize and that you may have anxiety over going to loud events. These are normal concerns if you have hearing loss, but a hearing specialist always works with you to make sure that you get the support you need in terms of your mental health, which is just as important as your hearing health.

They Can Stop your Hearing from Getting Worse

An audiologist can also work with you to stop your hearing loss from getting worse. They can find out if you have a hearing problem and how severe your hearing loss is. On top of that, they can also guide you through the treatment that is available so you can choose one that suits your needs and requirements. Hearing aids can also prevent your hearing from getting worse, by training your brain to pick up on the frequencies you once missed out on. Simple things like this can help you to regain the confidence you have lost over time.

If you want to find out more about how a hearing specialist can help you, then make sure that you get in touch with your audiologist today. You can call Vienna Hearing Center today at (703) 260-1250, if you want to learn more.