{"id":31286,"date":"2021-09-17T01:27:24","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T05:27:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/losgatosaudiology.com\/?p=31286"},"modified":"2021-09-18T01:31:49","modified_gmt":"2021-09-18T05:31:49","slug":"why-you-should-treat-your-hearing-with-an-audiologist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/losgatosaudiology.com\/why-you-should-treat-your-hearing-with-an-audiologist\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Treat Your Hearing with an Audiologist"},"content":{"rendered":"
There are a number of ways to get hearing aids today. \u201cBig box\u201d stores and online retailers offer hearing aids at cut-rate prices, and retail outlets may offer hearing aids from licensed professionals. While these options will certainly provide you with a set of hearing aids, the best way to acquire them is from an audiologist. Let\u2019s talk a little bit about why.<\/p>\n
Audiologists are not just licensed to sell and program hearing aids<\/a>. They have received a doctorate in audiology (Au.D.) from an accredited university graduate program. They\u2019re well-versed in the kinds of anomalies and illnesses that can result in hearing and\/or balance issues, and can identify them. It may be that your hearing loss has a mixed cause, some of which is treatable, or that your tinnitus is the result of a problem that also has a balance component.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When you see an audiologist about your hearing loss, you\u2019ll get a better picture of the cause. You\u2019ll hear about more treatment options, and you can trust that you\u2019ll be referred directly to the proper medical professional if the cause is medically treatable. Audiologists are specialized to treat hearing loss<\/a> in people from infancy through adulthood, and are familiar with every known cause of hearing loss in humans.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Audiologists will carefully review your medical history and conduct any number of hearing tests to ensure that they are confident in the cause(s) of your hearing loss. If the cause is not<\/em> medically treatable, they will be able to determine the best applications of hearing aids, aural rehabilitation or balance therapy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that audiologists are able to rule out medically treatable causes of hearing loss<\/em>, or help you get the medical treatment you need to hear your best. They are not just there to sell you a set of hearing aids\u2014they are there to improve your quality of life.<\/p>\n When you visit an audiologist, they\u2019ll ask a lot of questions about your background, lifestyle, medical history, and family medical history. It may be the case that you should be wearing hearing aids, or using earplugs more often, or avoiding ototoxic chemicals. They may measure your cognitive functioning to ensure there is not a feedback loop between hearing loss and cognitive impairment, which hearing aids alone will not treat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBig box\u201d stores and online retailers do not take a holistic approach to understanding your hearing loss. They will sell you a set of hearing aids and hope for the best. An audiologist will invest more time in really understanding what\u2019s happening between your hearing loss and your brain, and make sure to provide you with the best, ongoing care that is available.<\/p>\n If you do need hearing aids, the aids you\u2019ll acquire from an audiologist will be far superior to what is available in a \u201cbig box\u201d store. Common complaints about low-quality hearing aids are that they don\u2019t sound good, and they pick up radio interference. Adjusting to hearing aids<\/a> is a process, even when sound quality is pristine, so set yourself up for success by acquiring a top-quality set of hearing aids from an audiologist.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n High-quality hearing aids will also last longer, in addition to serving you better for the time you have them. Lower-tier aids are prone to malfunctioning due to lower quality control and poorer materials. Hearing aids spend most of their time in the relatively inhospitable environments in and around our ears. Manufacturing them with lower-quality materials leaves them more prone to damage from skin oils, earwax, sweat and the elements.<\/p>\n There are many different types of hearing loss, ear shapes, and lifestyles. The best pair of hearing aids for one person will not work for another. Your audiologist looks carefully at your situation, talks with you, and helps you arrive at the best solution for your<\/em> hearing loss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At a \u201cbig box\u201d store, you\u2019ll be on your own to select your hearing aids. How will you know what to choose? It\u2019s difficult to do your own research on a product when you don\u2019t know how it will interact with your body and lifestyle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nAudiologists Look at Your Whole Lifestyle<\/h2>\n
Audiologists Provide Better Products<\/h2>\n
Audiologists Know Their Products Better<\/h2>\n