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When it comes to hearing loss, there is a huge gap between the knowledge of an average layman and a professional. Although you may have noticed that your hearing is not as good as it used to be, you most likely don’t understand the nature of your hearing condition or the things you can do about it. Only a trained specialist can determine the exact ways in which you have lost your hearing, and that knowledge is necessary to make recommendations of the appropriate solutions.
During your first consultation with us at Roseville Diagnostic Hearing Center, you will need to ask some specific questions to develop a thorough understanding of these features of hearing loss. However, a hearing consultation can be overwhelming, and it is quite common to forget the questions you had prior to coming. In order to make sure you ask all the necessary questions, the following are some considerations to keep in mind.
You will probably want to write down these and other questions to make sure you are prepared for the meeting and to keep you on track if you get flustered. You may also want to enlist the support of a friend, family member, or loved one to keep you on track, as well. If you discuss these questions with the person offering moral support prior to the visit, they will be able to help you remember all the questions you want to ask when the time comes.
What are the details of my hearing loss?
Although you might have a general sense that hearing is more difficult now than it used to be, you might wonder exactly what kind of hearing loss you have. Of the main types of hearing loss, it is most common to experience a gradual decline in hearing ability located in the sensitive tissues of the inner ear, and this form of hearing loss is called sensorineural hearing loss. If this is the type of loss you have, then you may still want to know more detail. For instance, is your hearing loss evenly distributed between the two ears or do you have a “bad ear”? Is there a certain range of sound, such as a child’s voice, that might be more difficult for you than other sounds? Are there places or types of sound that will be more difficult for you?
What options do I have for assistance?
If indeed you have some hearing loss, there is an incredible array of possibilities for assistance. You might feel drawn to a certain kind of hearing aid, but it could turn out to be ill suited to your specific type of hearing loss. It is best to allow our team to offer a range of possibilities to you. Yet, you still have questions to ask.
What features come with these hearing aids? Will they be difficult to insert and remove if I have or develop arthritis? Do they have rechargeable batteries or disposable ones? How big and visible are the different models? Will they make me feel like my ears are clogged? You will want to find the right balance of features and price to find the aids that are perfect for your needs. There may be some unnecessary features that you can do without, making the aids better suited to your budget.
How can I take care of my new hearing aids?
It might seem obvious that you will need to do some basic cleaning of your hearing aids to maintain them, but there are other steps you will need to take to make sure they last as long as possible. In addition to a simple wipe-down with a clean cloth to remove debris, there are specially designed tools to clean the tiny crevices of hearing aids where wax or other buildup may collect. You will want to understand battery maintenance, as well. How often should they be charged or the batteries replaced? Are there manual controls that I should manipulate or a connected app that I can use? How do I make them Bluetooth compatible with my smartphone? All of these questions will help you understand the best way to keep your hearing aids functioning for years to come.
Roseville Diagnostic Hearing Center
If you’ve experienced changes in your hearing, now’s the time to schedule a hearing test! Contact us at Roseville Diagnostic Hearing Center to learn more.