Hearing loss is the third most common health problem in America, but as hearing health professionals, we’ve long been witnesses to the stigma surrounding the condition. This has discouraged many hearing-impaired individuals from seeking treatment. On average, an individual with hearing loss will wait up to seven years before getting help. Treating hearing loss early is greatly beneficial to an individual’s overall health, but many do not recognize early symptoms of the condition. In honor of National Audiology Awareness Month, we want to educate and empower our community to seek treatment for suspected hearing loss. The following questionnaire may help you identify potential hearing loss.
- Have you been regularly exposed to loud noises during work, service in the military or recreational activities?
- Do you find you need to ask people to repeat themselves often?
- Do you have difficulty hearing speech in situations with lots of ambient noise?
- Is it challenging to hear conversations over the phone?
- Do you watch TV or listen to music at a high volume?
- Has a loved one indicated that you may have hearing loss?
- Do you have any family members with hearing loss?
- Do you ever hear phantom sounds, e.g. a ringing, buzzing or whooshing?
- Do you find it hard to understand women or children?
- Do you have difficulty following conversations where multiple people are speaking at once?
- Does straining to hear leave you feeling fatigued?
If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, you may have some degree of hearing loss. In order to prevent further deterioration of your hearing and avoid complications from untreated hearing loss, schedule an appointment with audiologist. An audiologist is a hearing health provider who specializes in the diagnostics and treatment of hearing and vestibular disorders. They may also be referred to as hearing aid doctors due their expertise in hearing aid technology.
If you or a loved one is looking to purchase hearing aids, we can help! Our team includes some of the best audiologists in Houston, Texas. To learn more about our services or to schedule a consultation, we encourage you to contact our team at (281) 578-7500.