Your audiologist is the first source of diagnosis, information and help regarding anything ear and balance related. As licensed medical professionals, they tend to deal with hearing loss and disorders but are an invaluable companion on all hearing health journeys. To be as best informed on their ear health as possible, many patients pose questions. Here are four that your audiologist will be glad to answer.

How do I learn about my current hearing abilities?

This is the most common reason to visit an audiologist. If you’re concerned you’re suffering from hearing loss, there is no one better qualified to give you a detailed answer on the current state of your hearing. After learning your medical history and asking about your hearing and lifestyle, the audiologist will carry out a series of tests. The first will be a visual examination of the ear to spot signs of ear wax build-up or infection. After that, they will run a series of tests to see what tones, pitches and volumes you can hear. With all this data, they can give you a precise breakdown of your current hearing health.

What is causing my hearing loss?

Age is one of the most common factors in all cases of hearing loss, but it is not the only one. During the examination, the audiologist will do as much as possible to find out about other factors in hearing loss. As mentioned, earwax and infections can cause it, but so can other medical conditions. Depending on whether or not a condition is involved, you may be referred back to your primary healthcare provider or doctor. The detailed information the audiologist can provide may help them prescribe the most effective treatments available.

How do I protect my ears from further hearing loss?

Your audiologist will have a range of tips to help you further protect your ears. Hearing aids can help block out certain tones or pitches of noise, but they may also recommend custom ear protectors that can filter noise selectively. Some audiologists may recommend some form of lifestyle change to limit your exposure to harmful noise levels where possible, too.

What hearing assistance should I make use of?

Depending on your lifestyle and hearing health, there is a wide range of hearing help that your audiologist can recommend. Hearing devices, also known as hearing aids, are some of the most common. But there are many different options depending on what kind of noise and how much of it your life involves. Other solutions may include captioned telephones which provide easy speech-to-text translation to help you better communicate over the phone. Tips for the family and loved ones, helping them communicate more clearly with you, can also help.

If you can think of any other questions for your audiologist, don’t hesitate to ask them. Proper care for your ears and the protection of your hearing and balance relies as much on you as it does on them. Getting informed is the best way to ensure that happens.