Hearing loss in Abilene, TX
Realizing you suffer from hearing loss can be a frightening situation to find yourself in. However, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America, this condition affects about 48 million people in the US every year. It is a common condition, especially in those over the age of 65. Luckily, your ear, nose and throat doctor can help you manage your hearing loss and understand the best course of treatment for you.
Do I have hearing loss?
Hearing loss often begins and builds slowly over a long period of time. However, there are a few signs and symptoms of hearing loss which can make it easier to narrow down your diagnosis. For example, if you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves very often, you may suffer from some degree of hearing loss. Some other symptoms include:
- Others tell you the TV or radio is too loud while you think it is at a normal volume.
- Increased difficulty understanding normal conversations, especially in noisy or crowded situations.
- You feel as though you need to concentrate in order to hear a conversation.
- You feel as though others often mumble while speaking to you.
- You need to ask others to repeat themselves more often than not.
I think I have hearing loss. What now?
Often, those around you will notice your hearing loss before you. If you find that others often mention they think you may suffer from hearing loss, take their opinion seriously and contact your doctor. Diagnosing hearing loss is most often achieved using a hearing test. This test occurs in your doctor’s office and involves placing a pair of headphones over your ears. During the test, you will listen for sounds, played at different frequencies and indicate the ear in which you hear the sound. This helps your doctor determine the frequencies at which you have the most trouble hearing and the severity of your overall hearing loss.
Hearing Loss Treatments
Hearing aids are the most common treatment for hearing loss. There are a variety of hearing aids available in different price ranges. Depending on your hearing loss and preference, you can work with your doctor to determine the best hearing aid for you. Some common models include behind-the-ear models, which wrap around the outer ear, in-the-ear models which lie inside of the ear and do not wrap around it, and in-the-canal models, which lies inside of the ear’s canal mostly out of sight.