Malcolm Forbes once said, “The art of conversation lies in listening.” As social animals, listening, communicating, and truly connecting give us life, it buoys our very being. A hearing care specialist, also known as an audiologist knows this more than anyone, it is their mission to address whether someone has normal sensitivity to sounds, or if there is hearing loss, to ensure they have the best quality of life as their hearing declines.
Hearing loss is a chronic disease, not something that simply declines as we age. This is clear in how hearing actually works, beyond the ears. Ears collect, amplify, organize, and transmit sound signals to the auditory nerve. From there the work really begins, with signals traveling from the ear to the brainstem, the midbrain, and then to the auditory cortices. These signals travel across the brain multiple times communicating information throughout the brain — this is hearing.
But when this crisscrossing of signals isn’t working properly and hearing changes, it may be a sign that a part of the brain may somehow be damaged. This is why it is critical to address hearing loss by seeking help from an audiologist because getting over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids could only deal with the symptom of a larger problem, not the root cause. It takes more than the right technology to improve someone’s quality of life, it takes knowledge, understanding, care, and expert guidance.
Personalized Hearing Care
Audiologists are hearing care professionals trained to specifically address an individual’s hearing loss needs, and to create tailored strategies that work best for the individual. While OTC hearing aids are accessible and less expensive, they don’t require comprehensive testing. This means patients won’t receive an accurate assessment of what is happening with their hearing and what is truly needed to address it in the safest, most effective way possible.
Working with an audiologist provides patients with more personalized care. Audiologists have the tools to complete more comprehensive testing, and they take the time to understand their patients and get insight into the patient’s life experiences. This is how audiologists are able to provide tailored treatment solutions that boost quality of life.
A trusted audiologist combines their education, years of experience, professional expertise, and the experiences they’ve had with other patients to determine the best course of action for an individual’s needs. Hearing is deeply connected with the brain – cognitive function – which is why it is so important to receive personalized care. Your hearing, and your brain, need personalized care, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
The Impact of Hearing Loss on Daily Life
Hearing loss can significantly impact various aspects of an individual’s daily life. Social interactions may become strained, leading to frustration. In turn, this may lead individuals to self-isolate, which can lead to loneliness. Work performance can also suffer due to communication difficulties, potentially affecting career prospects. What cannot be ignored is that hearing loss has been linked to cognitive decline and mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. These are just a handful of reasons to keep track of hearing health proactively.
Early intervention by an audiologist can prevent or mitigate these impacts, ensuring individuals maintain their social connections, job performance, and overall well-being.
Hearing Tests
Audiologists use a variety of tests to diagnose hearing loss accurately. Some of these tests include:
- Pure-tone audiometry: measures the faintest sounds a person can hear at different frequencies
- Speech audiometry: assesses how well a person can understand speech
- Tympanometry: evaluates the condition of the middle ear and mobility of the eardrum.
These comprehensive hearing tests help audiologists determine the type and degree of hearing loss, allowing them to create a tailored treatment plan that addresses the specific needs of each patient.
Keeping Up With Technology
One guarantee in life (other than death and taxes) is that things change. Whether it’s a smartphone, a car, or a cleaning product, updates are constantly being made. We are in a time of endless discovery and the evolution of all things, and this, of course, includes hearing aids. Hearing aids are a very sophisticated technology. The first electronic hearing aid was invented in 1898, by Miller Reese Hutchison, and it has seen a variety of different updates and changes over the years.
Of course, back then, changes took longer to take hold, but that is no longer the case. Technology, hearing aid technology included, is always changing, and that’s a good thing! With more insight into the technology, developments are made that increasingly improve how they function, providing the wearer with improved hearing that suits their lifestyle.
While getting OTC hearing aids may be the best option for some, it robs the user of getting first-hand insight into the newest technological developments made in the hearing aid world. It’s an audiologist’s job to keep up with hearing aid technology to determine what works best for their patients. There is a lot an audiologist can do to keep up with the latest technology, including:
- Educational Resources/Online Courses: Audiologists have access to audiologist-specific resources that provide them with additional education to keep them up to date with the latest news in the audiology world. This may be education on new hearing test protocols, the launch of a new product, or scientific evidence about how hearing actually works. Science is ever-evolving, so continuous education is critical for an audiologist’s career and their patients’ well-being.
- Industry Events: Industry-specific events allow audiologists to get a holistic understanding of their profession and to see what changes are being made. The medical field is always in flux, and conventions are an excellent opportunity to share any changes with a large audience.
- Read Specialized Audiology Publications: Just like there are medical journals about cancer and Alzheimer’s, there are journals dedicated to hearing healthcare. Audiologists have first-hand access to these sources, which document any updates within the industry about treatment options, technology, and much more.
- Participate in Manufacturer Training Programs: Different hearing device manufacturers like Phonak, Starkey, and Oticon offer training programs for audiologists to teach them about the latest technology available. In this way, audiologists can discover first-hand what technological breakthroughs are available and be taught how to use them straight from the source.
- Network with Peers: Meeting with contemporaries allows professionals to share ideas and learn from one another. Audiologists can collaborate with colleagues and discuss new ways to approach an old problem. Sharing ideas is often a great way to find out about something new.
The important thing to remember here is that an audiologist is committed to hearing health, and is always looking for the next best way to help a patient. A salesperson selling OTC hearing aids has only one job, to sell. They are not required to keep up to date with the latest developments in hearing aid technology.
Hearing Health in Modern Times
Audiologists are committed to helping folks experiencing hearing loss find the best solutions to address their needs. As a public health concern, treating every aspect of hearing health is a top priority. There are a variety of factors that may impact whether someone can access hearing care, including:
- Cost – Hearing healthcare may be a financial burden for many
- Specialized Providers – Some parts of the world and more rural regions of the US contend with a low number of audiology providers
- Travel – The cost, time, inconvenience, and distance associated with visiting an audiologist’s office can make getting hearing care difficult to prioritize
And many others. As the barriers to accessing care remain and technology continues to expand, audiologists take many approaches to care. Many audiologists start by helping patients conserve the hearing health they currently have with hearing protection. Each individual will have different preferences and needs for what they need most to protect their hearing, like swim protectors, musician plugs, and noise plugs. Hearing protection can help preserve hearing and prevent further hearing loss.
Audiologists are also meeting patients where they are by adopting telehealth – tele-audiology – and mobile services to help patients more easily. Audiologists that offer tele-audiology are able to perform a variety of tasks remotely, giving patients the benefit of receiving top-of-the-line care that is personalized and accessible, including:
- Video otoscopy
- Hearing screening
- Diagnostic testing
- Fitting and programming hearing aids
- Balance and tinnitus evaluation and management
Another powerful tool in the audiologist toolbox lies in the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in enhancing the hearing aid fitting process. Traditionally, hearing aids are fitted in a quiet environment with the use of noise simulators. But now, AI allows fittings to more accurately represent the user’s lifestyle while giving them the ease of reporting issues in real-time. This means adjustments can be made as needed, not periodically during an appointment.
Conclusion
In an era where technology is rapidly advancing and accessibility to healthcare is a growing concern, the role of audiologists remains crucial. They offer personalized care that purchasing OTC hearing aids simply cannot match.
By leveraging their extensive training, staying updated with the latest technological advancements, and adopting flexible approaches like tele-audiology, audiologists ensure that individuals receive comprehensive care tailored to their unique needs.
Prioritizing professional guidance over convenience can significantly enhance the quality of life for those experiencing hearing loss, ensuring that they remain connected, engaged, and thriving in their daily lives.If you’re noticing changes in your hearing or simply want to stay proactive about your hearing health, don’t wait. A licensed audiologist can offer expert insight, comprehensive testing, and customized care you won’t get from over-the-counter solutions.
