If you suffer from hearing loss, your physician will perform a physical examination, evaluate your medications for hearing-related side effects, and in some cases, recommend diagnostic testing. If your hearing fails to improve, you may be referred to an audiologist, who will determine if you are a candidate for hearing aids. After getting your devices, you will need to visit your audiologist for routine check-ups, however, here are some other reasons why you may need to make an appointment with your hearing doctor.
Earwax Removal
The accumulation of excess earwax can intensify hearing loss. While gently cleaning your ears with a cotton-tipped swab can help remove some wax, you will need to make an appointment with your audiologist if your wax becomes deeply embedded inside your ear canal.
Embedded earwax can lead to significant pain and it may also make wearing your hearing devices uncomfortable. Depending upon the condition of your ears and the extent of your wax buildup, your audiologist may use an instrument known as a curette to gently remove the wax, or he or she may choose to irrigate your ears with water and a special cleaning solution to help soften and remove the earwax. Once embedded earwax is removed, ear pain will be eliminated, your risk for ear infections will decrease, and your hearing aids will feel more comfortable.
Device Feedback
Feedback refers to the whistling, screeching, hissing, or buzzing sounds that can be heard while you are wearing your hearing devices. While feedback may be more common in people whose hearing loss is severe, it can happen to those whose hearing loss is moderate.
When certain hearing signals are emitting from your ear canal, they can come into contact with the microphones on your hearing devices. This phenomenon often results in feedback, which may be very irritating and intrusive, especially to people with sensitive ears, allergies, or blocked Eustachian tubes.
If repositioning your hearing devices fails to resolve feedback, you will need to see your audiologist, who will check the devices and examine your ears. In rare cases, new hearing aids may be recommended, especially if the size or shape of your ear canal has changed due to extreme weight changes or advancing age.
If you experience ear pain, develop earwax buildup, or experience feedback from your hearing devices, make an appointment with your audiologist. When problems are recognized and addressed early on, you are more likely to better enjoy the benefits that hearing aids can offer.
If you have questions about hearing aids, reach out to a local audiologist.
