As of September 2021, about 60% of Canadians between the ages of 19 to 79 are experiencing hearing problems.
Is it a slight ringing in the ear, some aching, or outright hearing loss? Our audiologist services can help you determine the best course of action for your hearing health.
If you think you may have recently damaged your hearing because of noise, an accident, or something else, you should see an audiologist as soon as possible. They’ll help you find out how bad the damage is and talk about fixing or avoiding it.
Keep on reading for our breakdown of the help that audiology tests can provide.
Audiologist Services: Detecting Hearing Problems
So, you’re worried that you’re experiencing hearing loss? Thankfully, an audiologist can tell if you’ve hurt your hearing lately or not.
Audiologists are trained and licensed workers who look for, diagnose, and fix problems with hearing and balance. They use different tests and exams to figure out how much and what kind of hearing loss a person has. This can help them figure out if the hearing loss happened recently or has been going on for a long time.
Pure-tone audiometry is a popular test that audiologists use to find out the softest sounds a person can hear at different frequencies. By comparing the data to known values, they can find out if hearing levels have changed recently.
Audiologists may also use other tests, like speaking audiometry and otoacoustic emissions (OAE) testing, to evaluate different parts of hearing function and determine if the auditory system has been damaged recently.
And, if you’re worried about setting up an appointment and going in person, you can take advantage of our mobile hearing test services at Ears To You.
The Differences Between an ENT and an Audiologist
An ENT is short for Ear, Nose, and Throat physician. They’re a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating problems with the ear, nose, throat, and other parts of the head and neck that are connected to them.
They have a lot of medical training and can treat a wide range of ear, nose, and throat problems, including hearing loss, with medicine and surgery.
On the other hand, an audiologist is a doctor who is trained to test, diagnose, and treat problems with hearing and balance.
Audiologists have either a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) or a Master of Science (M.S.) in audiology. They have been taught to do different hearing tests and evaluations. They fix and give out hearing aids, help people with hearing loss get better, and give advice and information about hearing health.
When to Consult an Audiologist?
Since you’re reading this article, you should probably consult a registered audiologist to set your mind at ease.
The same goes if you’re experiencing dizziness, tinnitus, hearing loss, or you have some family history of ear-related issues.
Tackling Hearing Problems
Whether you’ve been dealing with hearing problems your whole life or you’ve had an accident recently, you’re not alone. Audiologist services can help you figure out the source of the issue and give you treatment options.
We hope that our short guide has given you a solid idea of your next course of action. You’re in Vancouver’s Lower Mainland or on Vancouver Island? Book an appointment online at Ears To You.
You can also call us directly if you’re looking for advice or have questions about our services.
