Having good hearing is essential to staying connected to others and to enjoying music, birdsong, and other pleasurable sounds. Audiologists play important roles in helping people maintain good hearing and reduce their risk for hearing conditions, including tinnitus and hearing loss.
Here’s more about the benefits of visiting an audiologist and how to contact Sonora Hearing Care to request a hearing test.
What Is an Audiologist?
Duties and responsibilities of an audiologist include:
- Performing ear and hearing exams on the outer, middle, and inner ear
- Removing earwax buildup
- Diagnosing hearing disorders
- Developing individualized treatment plans for patients with hearing disorders
- Making and ordering custom-fitting hearing aids and other hearing devices for patients
- Repairing and programming hearing aids
- Educating patients on their hearing disorders and on ways to prevent hearing loss
Benefits of Visiting an Audiologist
One of the greatest benefits of visiting an audiologist is learning ways to prevent hearing loss. An estimated 37.5 million American adults (15%) report having difficulty hearing, and about 28.8 million adults could benefit from using hearing aids.
There are other benefits of visiting an audiologist.
Extensive Hearing Tests
Audiologists perform comprehensive hearing tests to determine whether patients are at risk for hearing loss and can accurately identify and diagnose hearing disorders so treatment can be started right away. Compared with quick hearing tests offered by primary care doctors, the extensive hearing tests performed by audiologists can lead to the early diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss before symptoms and hearing loss become more severe.
Earwax Removal
Earache, ear infection, tinnitus, and hearing loss are some of the many complications of earwax buildup. Furthermore, removing earwax at home can potentially lead to an ear injury and worsened hearing ability. Many audiologists offer professional earwax removal and can safely remove earwax buildup from the ear using special tools and instruments that won’t put hearing at risk.
Hearing Aid Services
Hearing aids can amplify sounds to improve hearing in people who have sensorineural hearing loss, which is hearing loss caused by damage to sensory cells in the inner ear. Audiologists perform a wide range of hearing aid services that include helping patients choose hearing aids, fitting them for hearing aids, and repairing hearing aids. An audiologist can also program hearing aids for patients as needed based on the degree of their hearing loss.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Hearing Conditions
An audiologist can diagnose and treat nearly all hearing-related conditions. Audiologists will work with patients to identify the root cause of their hearing loss so they can address it and work toward improving their hearing or slowing the rate of hearing loss.
Hearing disorders that can be treated by audiologists include:
- Dizziness and balance problems
- Hearing loss, including age-related hearing loss and noise-induced hearing loss
- Tinnitus
- Hyperacusis
- Auditory processing disorders
- Peripheral nerve tumors
Where to Find an Audiologist In Tucson
Sonora Hearing Care is devoted to working with patients to reduce their risk for hearing loss and hearing-related conditions. Contact us today at (520) 881-8740 to request a hearing test and learn more about your available treatment options.