When Should You See an Audiologist?

Your audiologist is your go-to source for help with any issues related to your hearing, balance, and general ear health. Still, you may not know what exactly they can do for you or when you should go see them. Here, we’re going to lay four examples of when you need to schedule an appointment with your audiologist and how they can help with a wide range of issues.

You need your routine check-up

For adults who haven’t experienced any trouble with their hearing, the last time they had an exam might have been in grade school. If you’re past 21, it’s worth getting your hearing checked at least once to ensure that it’s still up to scratch. If you use a hearing aid device or you are over the age of 65, then an annual hearing check is advised to ensure you are always using the best methods to treat hearing loss and prevent it from progressing further.

You think you have an earwax build-up

If you have a blocked feeling in your ear, coupled with sudden hearing loss, there’s a very good chance you have an earwax impaction. Besides the obvious discomfort and hearing difficulties, compactions can increase your risk of ear infection amongst other things. However, you shouldn’t try cleaning it out yourself, especially with dangerous methods like using cotton swabs or ear candling, both of which can do real damage to your ear. Audiologists can carefully and safely extract ear wax in a single, quick session.

You’re worried about hearing loss

As soon as you begin to notice that your hearing has changed, or even suspect it, you should make an appointment with the audiologist. The initial physical exam and the health questions they ask can treat or rule out the temporary causes. Beyond that, a full hearing exam can help you get a better understanding of the full spectrum of your hearing, as well as the ongoing causes. With that information, they can help you choose the most effective treatment as well as sharing tips to help you better protect your hearing in the future.

You’re experiencing other hearing or balance issues

Hearing loss isn’t the only thing that audiologists are concerned with, either. Tinnitus is a common concern involving the experience of noises or sounds that no one else can hear, and audiologists can recommend a variety of methods to both treat the symptom itself as well as to treat the lingering mental health concerns that it can trigger. Audiologists are also trained to help patients with a variety of balance-related issues, such as vertigo. To put it simply, if you have any trouble related to your hearing or your balance, your audiologist is likely to be the person best equipped to help you better understand and combat it.

If you experience any of the issues above or simply want a clearer picture of your ear health, no one is better suited to help than your audiologist. They are uniquely qualified and certified to guide you through every step of your ear health journey.