Don’t delay managing your hearing loss after you are diagnosed, as your quality of life will be negatively impacted. — TNS
The red flag signs of a hearing-related issue that requires medical attention include sudden hearing loss, or hearing loss in only one ear.
Such symptoms should be taken seriously and assessed by a physician, audiologist Stephanie DiSpigno advises.
DiSpigno treats hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ear), and fits patients with hearing aids, in the United States.
She shared what patients need to know when considering visiting a professional to address hearing complaints.
Audiologists assess the severity of hearing loss and can provide treatment options.
Physicians, such as ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists, can assess whether hearing symptoms are part of a medical condition.
Seek medical attention any time you experience fluid draining out of the ear, sudden hearing loss, or hearing loss or ringing that affects only one ear.
Balance issues can be another symptom of an ear-related issue that merits seeking medical attention.
“Anything that is a red flag, we always defer to our ENT partners,” DiSpigno said.
Many patients wait for years after being diagnosed with hearing loss to pursue treatment, she said.
For some patients, hearing loss can trigger feelings of grief and worries about ageing.
But advancements in treatment options allow patients to quickly regain quality of life.
“Once they realise that their hearing loss is impacting their quality of life, do something about it,” she said. – By Abraham Gutman/The Philadelphia Inquirer/Tribune News Service
