What should you do if your hearing has declined so much that you have trouble understanding everyone—not just your spouse—and you find yourself turning up the volume on the speakers?
Ear exam. The first step is to have your ears examined, by either your primary care doctor or an ear specialist. An ear exam can make certain that something isn't physically stuffing up your ears. Earwax. chronic ear infections, or some other obstruction that keeps sound from getting to the inner ear can sometimes be removed or treated to improve hearing.
Hearing test. If your ears are already clear, or if removing a blockage doesn't make much of a difference, the next step is to get a formal hearing test (audiogram) to determine how much and what type of hearing loss is present.
Some people will stop after a positive audiogram, satisfied to know that, yes, they do have some hearing loss, which explains those annoying symptoms. And quite a few of those with mild to moderate hearing loss are able to live with their problem by paying careful attention to the communication skills I've discussed previously, and by asking for a little patience from their friends and family. Minimizing exposure to loud or sustained noises can help to slow any further hearing loss, too.
Amplification and hearing aids. For those with significant hearing loss, there are a few surgical approaches that sometimes improve hearing, and it is certainly worth asking an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physician or audiologist about those options. Amplification, however, is still the most common treatment.
The good news is that hearing aids have undergone substantial improvements in recent years. Smaller devices can often be concealed within the ear canal, so that other people may not even know you're wearing one. Remote controls, digital technology, and selective amplification all make it easier to hear what you need to hear, without so much annoying feedback or distortion.
Many people just don't like to admit that their hearing has gotten so bad that they need a hearing aid, and the newer devices can be expensive. But if you're struggling to understand what people are saying to you and want to hear what you've been missing, it might be time to see your doctor or audiologist.
