When It's Time To See An Audiologist

It’s always in your best interest to be proactive about your health. However, there are certain aspects of our health that we tend to ignore. Issues related to your hearing and balance can often happen gradually, so you may end up letting them linger too long. However, this could have surprising effects on your quality of life in the long term. For that reason, it’s important to know when you should make an appointment to see your local audiologist.

You’ve Never Been

A healthcare professional wearing a white coat holds an anatomical model of a human ear. They use a metal pointer to indicate a part of the ear structure, demonstrating a lesson or examination.

You might not necessarily have noticed any differences in your hearing or balance health, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an appointment. If you have never visited an audiologist, then you could benefit from getting a hearing test regardless. Not only could you potentially catch issues that you would otherwise be unaware of, but you can also set a baseline for future hearing tests. Basically, this would make it easier for the audiologist to catch the early signs of hearing loss in the future.

You’re Over 65 Years Old

As we get older, our body undergoes changes that make us more susceptible to certain conditions. This includes an increased risk of age-related hearing loss or presbycusis. The symptoms of this kind of hearing loss can be particularly slow-moving, so you may not have noticed them. If you’re over 65 years of age, then you have roughly a 33% chance of experiencing hearing loss, so it’s worth making sure you can treat or prevent it.

You’re Experiencing Signs Of Hearing Loss

Various hearing aids surround a central display with an ear model wearing a blue hearing aid. An otoscope is placed on the right. The hearing aids come in different sizes and colors, including beige, brown, and red.

Any sudden change of hearing, in one ear or both, should be treated as a medical priority, as it could be caused by impacted earwax, an ear infection, or other issues. However, there are signs of gradual hearing loss worth keeping an eye out for, like constantly asking people to repeat themselves, turning up the TV louder than others prefer, or struggling to follow the dialogue in group settings. It’s important to seek a diagnosis from an audiologist as well and not just a hearing aid from a dispenser. You can find key takeaways on the differences between the two here. To keep it basic, an audiologist is medically licensed to diagnose and treat hearing conditions, including hearing loss, in a way that hearing aid vendors are not.

You’re Experiencing Tinnitus

Any ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears that doesn’t have a clear explanation is what we call tinnitus. This is not a condition in and of itself but rather a symptom that can be tied to a range of underlying issues, including hearing loss, damage to the ear, or even circulatory issues. If the noise is persistent, affects your concentration, or interferes with sleep, it’s time to see an audiologist. They offer your best chance of finding an explanation and, otherwise, can provide sound therapy, counselling, or hearing aids with tinnitus-masking features.

Your hearing health and your balance are not to be overlooked. If any of the above criteria fits you, then you should make an appointment to see them as soon as you can.

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