Experiencing Hearing Loss? What to Do
If you have been experiencing diminished hearing, or other auditory/hearing issues, you may be in a panic. Hearing loss can be attributed to a variety of causes, and the most important thing to do first and foremost is to find out what is causing the issue. Try to stay calm, and first and foremost, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible to learn more, diagnose the problem, discuss your options and get treatment.
Hearing issues can be down to genetics, outside factors like damage from stereo/headphone equipment, the result of some sort of trauma or illness, as well as other causes. If you experience severe symptoms, contact your primary care physician, or an urgent care facility like the various Fort Collins urgent care facilities that are available. Your doctor will consult with you, run tests and diagnose the problem, then provide you with a list of treatment options. You may qualify for a hearing aid or implant, or may find that you require some type of surgery. In many cases, certain treatments can restore hearing partially or even fully; for some, it may be a problem that is chronic and cannot be treated, only managed. For people whose hearing cannot be restored, there are still resources available to help you, such as accessibility aids and devices that can help you restore the quality of life you had before your hearing loss.
Many people refuse to go to the doctor at the first sign of diminished hearing; there are a lot of reasons for this. Often they don’t want to spend the money, worried that their insurance won’t cover various treatments and procedures, or perhaps they are uninsured and can’t afford an extra doctor’s visit. Often people will avoid seeing a hearing doctor because they don’t want to admit that they are experiencing a loss, worried that it makes them seem weak or frail. In other cases, a person may be putting off a visit because they’re busy and think that something like hearing loss isn’t “important enough” to warrant a doctor visit. While these reasons are all understandable, none of them are valid enough to avoid going to the doctor.
For those who might be worried about costs, there are lots of resources out there for you. Many urgent care and health department facilities offer sliding scale plans and government-assisted care. You can also apply for outside pay options like Care Credit, or perhaps you can find a local doctor who accepts payment plans. You can apply for hearing aids and other devices online through various assistance programs, as well.
If you’re worried about the stigma of diminished hearing or think it “isn’t that important”, you’re wrong! Preventative care is often very important when it comes to hearing; the sooner you get into the doctor, the better they can combat the problem before it becomes a total loss. There’s no shame in seeing a doctor for reduced/diminishing hearing. It happens to many people regardless of age or other factors. And many hearing aids and devices are virtually undetectable and will not change your life or inconvenience you or others in any way. There’s simply no reason not to go and be seen to correct your hearing issues. So make that appointment today!
