A hearing loss specialist is a medical professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating patients with hearing impairments. These hearing loss specialists are either ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctors or audiologists.
ENT surgeons are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders of the ear, nose, throat (ENT), and related structures of the head and neck. They are also known as otolaryngologists. Audiologists are health care professionals who diagnose, manage, and treat hearing loss and balance disorders. Both hearing specialists are highly experienced in seeing patients with hearing issues.
Let’s talk about three important reasons to see a hearing loss specialist:
To Get a Diagnosis
It is important to get a proper hearing loss diagnosis. A hearing loss specialist can perform a variety of tests to determine the severity and cause of your hearing loss, which is important to finding the right treatment solution.
There are a few ways that hearing loss can be diagnosed. For instance, audiometry and speech discrimination tests measure an individual’s ability to hear and understand speech. In an auditory test, different tones are played through headphones at different volumes to see how well the person can hear them. In a speech test, words are spoken at different volumes to see how well the person can understand them. The hearing loss specialist can also conduct other tests to complete the evaluation.
To Receive Appropriate Treatment
Treatment recommendations will depend on the diagnosis. Hearing loss could be caused by different things. For instance, infection of the ear, such as otitis media, can cause hearing loss, which a doctor can treat with antibiotics. Age-related hearing loss may be slowed and hearing improved with the use of assistive devices such as hearing aids or cochlear implants.
It is by seeing a hearing loss specialist that you will find out if you are a candidate for hearing aids or other assistive devices. Hearing aids can greatly improve the quality of life for people with hearing loss, but not everyone is a good candidate for them. A hearing loss specialist can help you explore all of your options and find the best solution for you.
To Learn How to Use Assistive Devices
A hearing loss specialist such as an audiologist can give you expert advice on how to manage your hearing loss in everyday life. There are many things that people with hearing loss can do to make their lives easier, but it can be difficult to know where to start without professional guidance. Audiologists can help you choose the best assistive device for you and teach you how to use and care for them. They can also help you troubleshoot any problems you may have with your hearing device.
Hearing Loss Specialists in Georgetown, TX
You should never have to resign yourself to losing your hearing. Georgetown ENT has an ENT doctor – Dr. Scott William Franklin – and an audiologist – AbedaMueed – on staff who can provide for all your ear and hearing needs and help you hear better again. Since our practice has both types of hearing specialists, we can provide an exceptionally comprehensive ear and hearing loss care.
Our hearing center is located near Austin, Texas, and serves the surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment with a hearing loss specialist, call our office today at (512) 869-0604 or use our convenient online appointment request form.
