3 Questions to Ask Your HIS About Hearing Loss

If you suspect you may be experiencing a change in your hearing ability, scheduling a consultation with a hearing instrument specialist is a crucial first step to take. The hearing instrument specialist will carry out a hearing examination to determine whether you have hearing loss. The sooner you schedule in a consultation with the hearing instrument specialist, the better, as some types of hearing loss worsen over time.

To help you gain the most from your consultation with the hearing instrument specialist, it is helpful to prepare before your visit. Thinking about what you want to know about your hearing before your consultation will give you time to consider the questions you should ask. It is helpful to write these questions down to ensure you do not forget them once you arrive at your consultation. Here are three questions you may want to ask your hearing instrument specialist about your hearing loss:

What Types of Hearing Loss Am I Experiencing?

There are many kinds of hearing loss, so asking your hearing instrument specialist about the specific type of hearing loss you have is crucial. Knowing more about your hearing loss will allow you to gain a better understanding of it and develop a sense of what may have caused the hearing loss in the first place.

Hearing loss usually falls into three main categories: conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss and mixed hearing loss. Identifying which of these you have can provide you with helpful information about your hearing and a greater understanding of the cause of your hearing loss.

Does My Hearing Loss Affect Both Ears Equally?

While some people may experience hearing loss in one ear, for others, the loss of hearing may occur in both ears. Asking your hearing instrument specialist about your hearing loss and which ears are affected is an important question and will help you gain a deeper understanding of how your hearing loss can be treated.

Even if you experience a loss of hearing in both ears, they may not be equal. It is possible to experience a loss of hearing in each ear, but for one ear to have a greater level of hearing ability than the other.

Will Hearing Aids Help Improve My Ability to Hear?

Following on from asking your hearing instrument specialist about the type of hearing loss you are experiencing and whether it affects both ears, it is also helpful to understand if your hearing loss can be improved. Not every type of hearing loss is enhanced by hearing aids, and different hearing aids may be suitable for one person but not suitable for another. So, asking whether hearing aids will help improve your ability to hear is very much a personal question specific to you and your hearing loss experience. Your hearing instrument specialist will use their knowledge and skill to determine whether hearing aids are the right option for you, and which type of hearing aid would be the most beneficial choice.