Treating Hearing Loss

If you experience some of the following symptoms, contact your family doctor or audiologist and have your hearing tested.

It sounds to you as though people are mumbling or speaking more softly than they used to.
You are turning up the volume on the TV or radio above the level where others typically listen.
You can hear people talk, but you have difficulty understanding the words.
You frequently ask people to repeat themselves.
You can't always hear the doorbell or telephone clearly.
Family, colleagues and friends suggest you might have a hearing problem.
It has become difficult to understand a speaker at a business meeting or service.
It is especially difficult to hear women or children speak.
You often hear a ringing or buzzing in your ears.
You might notice a slight muffling of sound after noise exposure.
It can be difficult to hear or understand people when you leave a noisy area.
Determine if you have a hearing loss and what its causes might be. Your problem may be as simple as excessive earwax buildup or related to other medical causes.
Get appropriate treatment.
Take steps to prevent further hearing damage.

The right treatment for you depends on your unique hearing challenges. The most critical aspect of treatment is identification of the type and degree of hearing loss. Once this information is obtained by an audiologist the correct course of treatment can be determined. In some cases medical treatment by a physician is indicated, in others remediation through hearing aids or other assistive listening devices is the preferred course of action. Only a licensed certified audiologist can tell you what type of hearing aid is appropriate for you.

Together, you and your hearing professional will determine the proper treatment. If you do need a hearing device, the hearing professional will help you make the right choice. If not they will be able to direct you to the type of professional who can help you.