What Conditions do Audiologists Treat?

Audiologists are qualified professionals that can help diagnose, treat and prevent disorders involving hearing and balance. Ultimately, if you have a problem with hearing, dizziness, or even communication, an audiologist is there for you to offer a helping hand. Need to know more about the many conditions a hearing specialist can help you with? Let’s take a closer look at everything you need to know.

Hearing loss

People can lose their hearing for all types of reasons, whether it’s due to old age or a sudden exposure to extremely loud noises. An audiologist will evaluate your current condition, advise you on a treatment pathway, and help you get to grips with any equipment or tools you might need, such as a hearing aid. Be aware that sudden hearing loss can be an incredibly serious condition, and worsen rapidly. Your ears are delicate and intricate, and any sudden loss of hearing should be treated seriously and brought to your audiologist’s office as soon as possible.

Tinnitus

A lot of people believe tinnitus to be the condition that is causing their hearing problems. But actually, tinnitus is usually a result of a condition, rather than being the root cause itself. For example, if you have damaged the small hairs in your inner ear after exposure to loud noise, tinnitus can be a symptom. Similarly, if you are going through age-related hearing loss, tinnitus can become very apparent when you are in quiet environments. Treatment for tinnitus can include medication, therapy, white noise machines or hearing aids.

Balance and inner ear disorders

Your ability to balance is largely dictated by your inner ear, and any kind of disorder – such as dizziness or vertigo, can lead to problems only solved by an ear specialist. The audiologist will run some tests, diagnose your problem and suggest a way of treating your condition. Don’t allow your symptoms to persist when there is plenty of help out there, as they can get worse without attention.

Impacted earwax

Your ear relies on earwax to keep it clean, free from infection and in good condition. But there will be certain times in your life when overproduction might cause a problem. When the earwax forms a blockage it can harden, and needs a little help to get out. It is essential that you don’t try this yourself with a cotton, as you could damage your ear permanently. Instead, take your blockage to an audiologist who will be able to treat your wax problem with suction or irrigation.

Noise sensitivity

Finally, audiologists can help you overcome increased noise sensitivity – conditions such as hyperacusis and misophonia. Hyperacusis is characterized by an increased sensitivity to everyday sounds in the normal environment, while misophonia is a sensitivity to a particular range of small, repetitive sounds. If you have either of these issues, it can be incredibly debilitating – so pay regular visits to your audiologist for the best possible ear and hearing health.