Are You Struggling With Hearing Problems? Here Is What You Need To Do
So, you suspect you might have hearing issues? It can be a little scary. You may not even know what step to take next. Remember that time you attended a concert and had this buzzing sound in your years? This is called tinnitus. It’s a condition where the buzzing sound lasts until your ears readjust to everyday sounds. Blasting loud music in your room or attending a concert once in a while is common. However, continuous exposure to loud noise can lead to NIHL (noise-induced hearing). Research shows personal music players are among the causes of NIHL in teens. Besides NIHL, other types of hearing can affect you during your adult life. So, what should you do if you have a hearing impairment? Read on to learn more.
1. Consider Hearing Aids
Immediately you start having hearing issues, get checked. Most people ignore this, and the impairment becomes harder to resolve later on. However, if the issue is beyond control, this is where Resound Hearing Aids come in. These are convenient if your hearing loss is caused by damages to the inner ear. They help to restore the frequency range you’ve lost and are ideal for people suffering from tinnitus.
2. Cochlear Implants
If your hearing loss is severe, consider getting a cochlear implant. Some people report that it’s more effective compared to hearing aids. Typically, a hearing aid’s work is to amplify sound and channel it to your ear canal. On the other hand, a cochlear implant bypasses damaged parts of the ear and directly stimulates the hearing nerve. Before proceeding with this option, talk with your doctor and audiologist. They’ll help you understand the risk and benefits.
3. Auditory Brainstem Implants (ABI)
An ABI can be an option if you have permanent hearing loss. It helps solve problems with your auditory nerve. An ABI works in the same way as a cochlear implant. However, the electric sound signals are sent directly to the brain along wires. This is different from a cochlear implant where a cochlea is used. An ABI doesn’t fully restore the hearing. However, it can improve it to some degree.
4. Assistive Listening Devices
An audiologist can recommend hearing or assistive listening devices if you have severe hearing loss. The technologies in assistive hearing come in two types: assistive listening devices and signaling devices. The latter is designed to convert sound or keystrokes into visual stimuli. They can also convert visuals into written text. The former are instruments designed to improve the sound received by picking up the sound closer to a source.
5. Consider a Surgical Procedure
Some patients can have severe hearing loss, which can be addressed through surgery. These include abnormalities of the eardrum or the ossicles (bones of hearing). For instance, if you’ve had recurring infections with persistent fluid, an audiologist can insert small tubes that help drain your ears. However, ensure you consult your healthcare provider before surgery. You also want to check if your insurance can cover your surgery.
6. Try Physical Relaxation Practices
If you’re trying to deal with tinnitus and hearing loss, relaxation techniques can solve your predicament. If you have spikes of tinnitus moments, you’re likely unable to change the volume. However, you can try to make yourself more comfortable and relaxed. The best step you can take is to relax physically. Sometimes, stress often finds its way into our bodies as tightness, bodies, or aches.
7. Removal of Blockage
A hearing impairment can be restored by addressing what may be causing blockages such as infection, wax impaction, and abnormal growths. If your body produces too much earwax, you can have wax buildup – mainly if you use earphones a lot: Earphones can prevent earwax from coming out of the ear canals. This buildup eventually causes blockages. If it’s not treated, it can lead to infection. Contact an audiologist to check if your earwax is normal or abnormal.
8. Assess and Eliminate the Triggers
The biggest challenge for many tinnitus patients is dealing with difficult spikes. In most cases, tinnitus rarely remains constant. When it spikes in intensity or changes in quality or tone, it becomes more challenging to cope, especially if you have hearing loss. Diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors can also act as triggers. Try and identify your tinnitus triggers and eliminate them.
There’s always hope ahead. If you have hearing problems, it’s not the end of the road for you. However, you need to act immediately and with ease. Talk with an audiologist or a doctor specializing in the ears, nose, and throat (ENT). They will examine your hearing impairment and recommend the best way forward. Finally, keep on practicing best-safety standards in taking great care of your ears.
