Hearing loss can affect people of all ages. Recent statistics show that 2 to 3 children out of 1,000 are born with hearing loss and 15% of adults 18 or older experience at least some hearing loss.
How do you know when you need hearing help? Are there ways that you can test your own hearing? When should you see a doctor about potential hearing loss?
Fortunately, there are plenty of signs that your hearing may be in question. There are also ways to test your hearing at home to gauge the effects of your hearing loss.
Read on to learn more about hearing loss and how to test for it at home.
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Signs of Hearing Loss
There are a few signs that you may want to give your hearing a checkup. Most of us take at least one hearing test in elementary school, but after that, many of us take our hearing for granted. You may want to investigate your hearing more if you experience:
- Persistent ringing in one or both ears
- Difficulty to hear conversations without straining
- Pain in one or both ears
- Difficulty picking up individual sounds in moderately loud spaces
Hearing loss can be caused by a number of ailments. This can include anything from an ear infection to a buildup of wax in the ear canal to diseases like otosclerosis. The first step toward getting a diagnosis is establishing the presence and degree of hearing loss you are experiencing.
Hearing Help: A Self Test
Is it necessary to schedule a doctor’s appointment right away if you need hearing help? What can you do if you don’t currently have time to see a doctor?
In order to seek a diagnosis and further treatment, you will need to talk to your doctor. However, you can take a hearing test at home beforehand. Take your hearing test here and talk to your doctor as soon as you can.
Treatment For Hearing Loss
In some cases, you may need to have your ears professionally cleaned out of wax or liquid. In others, you may need antibiotics to clear up infections that are causing temporary hearing loss.
What if your hearing loss isn’t temporary? Can hearing aids help tinnitus? Do you need a hearing aid for moderate hearing loss?
Ultimately, your doctor will help you find the right solution to accommodate your change in hearing. It’s worth noting that hearing aids can help conditions such as tinnitus and may be useful to people with moderate hearing loss. Hearing technology has advanced quite a bit over the last few decades, ensuring that you can find the right hearing aid for your condition.
Hearing Loss Is Common and You Can Test Your Hearing at Home
Hearing loss is more common than we may realize and can affect people of all ages. Get immediate hearing help with an at-home, online test. Then, talk to your doctor about possible solutions.
Looking for more health news and tips? Take a look at our health section for resources that will help you monitor your health and seek treatment when needed.
