Do I need a Hearing Aid?

It seeps in so slowly and gradually that one is not even aware of the thing coming up. Hearing loss is a malady that creeps in slowly even as the volume of the TV goes up one number at a time without one realizing it. By the time realization dawns upon, it would be a little late to repair damages. Treating hearing problems early on is a major aspect of the wellness of the patient. Here’s a small questionnaire to ascertain for yourself if you have some hearing problems. • Do you ask people to repeat themselves when they say something over the phone? • Are you facing difficulty in following conversations at busy and noisy places? • Is it difficult for you to track the direction of the source of a sound? • Do you have to concentrate hard when people whisper? • Did a friend of yours ask you if you had a problem hearing? If you have answered these questions in an affirmative, it’s time to see either a family doctor or an ENT specialist. The doctor examines the ear and then asks if you were: • Exposed to loud noises. • Exposed to explosive noises. • Having diabetes, heart ailments, or thyroid problems. • Taking ototoxic drugs. • Having a family history of hearing loss. Then, the doctor determines the type of hearing loss and the causative factors. Hearing loss is of various types and can occur to people irrespective of age and gender. A conductive hearing loss is the result of a disorder in the outer and middle ear. This might be due to wax build up, infection, or the presence of fluid or a foreign object in the ear. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the nerves of the inner ear are damaged and are unable to transmit signals to the brain. This type of hearing loss can also be caused due to diabetes, exposure to loud noises, and injury. Hearing aids can rectify this kind of hearing loss effectively. Mixed hearing loss is a kind of hearing loss that occurs due to a combination of the above mentioned hearing losses. rnFor most hearing losses, hearing instruments can effectively treat condition. But, hearing aids also have their limitations. They cannot restore hearing to normalcy, completely avoid background noise, and cannot stop the progression of loss of hearing. Yet, the numerous advantages of hearing aids outweigh the limitations and are a must if: • One is able to hear low pitched or middle pitched sounds, but not able to hear high pitched sounds. • When one has trouble understanding people when they are not physically present in front of them. • When people have difficulty understanding a conversation in a group. • And, when you have the problems mentioned earlier in the article. After a proper examination from an audiologist in Hyderabad, a hearing aid is prescribed as per the need of the patient. Hearing loss is something that should never be neglected as the underlying cause might exacerbate and the quality of life of the patient is compromised.