Five Questions to ask Your Audiologist

If you’ve been struggling to hear as well as you used to, chances are you may be suffering from hearing loss. The first step to treating your hearing loss is to schedule an appointment with an audiologist in your area. During this appointment, your doctor will ask you an assortment of medical background questions, in addition to having your hearing tested.

Your time with the audiologist is valuable, so you’ll want to make sure you have a list of questions ready to go for your first appointment and any follow-up visits. Not sure where to start? Consider adding these five questions to your list.

1. Is my hearing ability likely to worsen?

This will depend on a number of factors, including: the type of hearing loss you are experiencing, whether or not it is related to any other medical conditions and the cause of your hearing loss. It is normal for older adults to experience a gradual decline in hearing ability later in life. If this applies to you, it is likely that your hearing will continue to worsen over the years. However, there are steps you can take to help minimize any further decline.

2. What can I do to protect myself from further hearing loss?

Ask your audiologist what precautions you can take to help prevent further damage to your hearing. You will likely be advised to limit exposure to loud sounds and to reduce the amount of time you spend in noisy listening environments. Proper ear care is also very important, so ask your audiologist for advice on the safest way to clean and care for your ears.

3. Would I benefit from wearing hearing aids?

Current figures suggest that around 29 million Americans could benefit from wearing hearing aids. So, unless you are experiencing only very mild hearing loss, the answer to this question is probably yes. Now is a good opportunity to discuss all the available options with your audiologist so that you can decide if purchasing hearing aids is the right choice for you.

4. Will wearing hearing aids be like my natural hearing?

If you are considering purchasing hearing aids it is important to have this conversation with your audiologist, to make sure that your expectations are realistic. Listening through hearing aids will dramatically increase your range of hearing, but it will not be just like ‘natural’ listening. It can take two to four weeks to adjust to wearing hearing aids and your audiologist will be able to guide you through the process. However, once your brain has adapted to your new hearing, you will find that your hearing aids are hardly noticeable.

5. What support is available to help me adjust to my new level of hearing?

Whether you decide to purchase hearing aids or not, you can find support to help you and loved ones cope with your hearing loss. Your audiologist may be able to put you in touch with support groups and other organizations that can help you to manage your day-to-day listening challenges.

If you’re ready to take control of your hearing health, schedule an appointment with an audiologist and have your hearing tested as soon as possible!