- WHAT CAN
I DO ABOUT HEARING LOSS ?
-
- While hearing
loss isn’t reversible, most age or noise related loss can
be managed and often compensated for.
-
- Sometimes that
means medication or surgery.
-
- But just as
eyeglasses are used to correct most vision problems, hearing
instruments are used to treat most kinds of hearing loss.
-
- Any treatment
starts with a screening of your hearing by a doctor or hearing
professional.
-
- Once you know
the nature and extent of the hearing loss, you’ll be able
to make your own decisions about treatment.
-
- But first, take
the opportunity to educate yourself about hearing and how hearing
loss occurs.
-
- HAVING YOUR
HEARING TESTED
-
- Unlike most
medical tests, the tests that measure hearing ability are relatively
quick and painless. An audiologist or hearing instrument specialist
will probably perform 3 or 4 simple exams, which may include
-
- Otoscopy, or
looking into the ears with a lighted scope.
-
- An audiogram,
a sound check that produces a mapping or graphical representation
of hearing ability.
-
- And a tympanogram,
which measures the pressure of the inner ear and assesses the
ear drum’s mobility.
-
- These tests
are performed at the hearing professional’s office and usually
take less than an hour to complete. With the information from
these tests, your hearing professional will be able to make an
accurate assessment of your hearing capabilities and advise you
of all your treatment options. In most cases, this means hearing
instruments. If a medical problem is found, your hearing professional
will refer you to a physician for next steps.
|