Often when people have a medical question, the first thought is to visit their primary care physician. Most of the time this is the right response, but that isn’t always the case when it comes to hearing ailments. Most doctors do not specialize in ears so they don’t know all the facts about the complex organ. When you come in inquiring about changes in your hearing, physicians may suggest a ‘watch and wait’ approach that could aggravate your hearing and even make it worse!
To clarify, if you have a lot of pain, excess fluid or a sudden hearing loss that occurs within a few hours or overnight, definitely tell your primary care physician and emphasize the severity of the condition. That might be a medical emergency and it could be due to a reaction to a new prescription, an infection or a symptom of a more serious condition. However, if you’ve noticed more difficulty understanding speech and sounds over time, then likely your ears need a little technology assistance.
If it is not an emergency, consider visiting our office first. Going to multiple doctors and making multiple appointments can be an inconvenience, especially if you’re going to be referred out anyway. Of course you’re more than welcome to visit a medical doctor before coming to us, and some insurance plans may require it, but you may be able to save time and money by coming directly to us. Then we will conduct a comprehensive hearing evaluation to determine your hearing profile and discuss any necessary hearing devices so you don’t miss any more important conversations.
If you are questioning whether your hearing has changed, click here to contact us! We also have an online hearing evaluation available. Click here to try it. This certainly doesn’t take the place of a professional evaluation, but it’s a good start to bringing your hearing back within your hearing range.
