When many people think of audiologists, they think of people who sell hearing aids. But audiologists are so much more than licensed hearing aid dispensers; they are the most qualified professionals who can help you with concerns about your hearing and balance. Below are six things audiologists can do for you.
Hearing Tests
Audiologists provide comprehensive hearing exams that measure the exact type and degree of your hearing loss. There are a variety of hearing tests available, but the most common are pure tone audiometry and speech audiometry. The results of such tests will be recorded on a graph called an audiogram.
Hearing Aids
After you’ve had a hearing test, your audiologist is the go-to person for all things hearing aid related. They’ll program your new hearing aids to the exact specifications of your hearing loss indicated by your audiogram, then tweak the programming to meet your lifestyle needs and hearing changes over time.
Hearing Protection
Whether you have hearing loss or not, it’s important to take measures to protect your hearing from further damage. An audiologist can advise on what hearing protection would work best for your needs, whether its drug store earplugs or custom earmolds. Your audiologist can take impressions of your ears and special-order hearing protection for exceptional comfort and protection.
Wax Removal
While some levels of earwax indicate a healthy and normally-functioning ear, it can sometimes become impacted and cause pain, tinnitus and hearing loss. Do not remove impacted earwax at home with a cotton swab or you’ll risk pushing it even deeper. Instead, visit an audiologist, who has the tools and experience to remove it.
Tinnitus Management
Tinnitus is the bothersome ringing, buzzing, whistling or rushing in your ears with no external source. Unfortunately, unless the underlying cause of tinnitus can be identified and treated, there is no cure for tinnitus. However, your audiologist can talk to you about management options such as white noise machines, tinnitus retraining therapy and hearing aids.
Balance Treatment
The inner ear lets us hear, but it also gives us the ability to balance ourselves. If there is an issue with the inner ear, you may experience imbalance, dizziness and vertigo. An audiologist can test the vestibular system in the inner ear and prescribe the best course of treatment.
Learn More About these Audiology Procedures
Call LeMay Hearing & Balance at (775) 323-5566 for more information or to schedule an appointment.