Why You Should See a Hearing Specialist Instead of a General Practitioner

When a person has an issue with their body, they normally make an appointment with their general practitioner. However, while this approach is commonly recommended for a wide range of issues such as colds, fevers and sore throats, there are some scenarios when it’s best to look for someone with specific expertise in the issue you’re dealing with.

One such example is if you suspect that you may have hearing loss. While your doctor can assist you with some ear-related issues, if you have hearing loss, it’s be best to make an appointment with a hearing specialist who has specialized knowledge and experience in diagnosing and treating hearing-related conditions.

They Have More Specialized Experience with Hearing Loss

When it comes to treating hearing loss, your general practitioner may have some basic familiarity with the condition, but their expertise and focus lie in various medical areas. Dealing with a wide range of health issues, they might not possess in-depth knowledge and experience specific to hearing loss. On the other hand, a HIS specializes in this field, dedicating their time and efforts to help individuals with hearing loss day in and day out. Their extensive experience and expertise in hearing-related matters make them the go-to professionals for anyone facing hearing challenges.

A HIS can conduct comprehensive evaluations to understand the specific nature of your hearing loss and recommend appropriate solutions tailored to your needs. Whether it’s hearing aids, assistive devices, or other interventions, they are well-equipped to guide you through the process of improving your hearing health.

Extensive Access to Solutions

It’s one thing to identify hearing loss. It’s another thing to actually understand the process of treating it with technology. Even if your general practitioner could determine that you do have hearing loss, they wouldn’t be able to fit you with the hearing aid that you need, since that’s not their specialty.

A hearing instrument specialist can help to determine the extent of your hearing loss and ensure you get the right hearing aid. These professionals are more versed in what kinds of technology will best suit your specific needs, including popular styles in the ear (ITE), in the canal (ITC) and behind the ear (BTE).

They Can Establish Your Baseline

A general practitioner won’t be able to offer a thorough hearing evaluation. They may be able to tell you that hearing loss is present based on your symptoms, but they don’t have the equipment needed to actually perform the testing. A HIS can accurately assess your hearing capabilities, identifying any existing issues and establishing a baseline to track your hearing progress over time. With their expertise, a HIS can conduct comprehensive hearing tests, which are essential for diagnosing the type and severity of hearing loss, ensuring that you receive the most appropriate and personalized treatment for your specific needs.

They Offer Preventative Tips

By staying up-to-date with the latest research and advancements, a HIS can educate individuals on potential risk factors for hearing loss and how to protect their hearing. They can offer guidance on implementing hearing protection strategies in noisy environments, such as wearing earplugs or earmuffs. Additionally, an HIS can counsel on adopting healthy listening habits, like reducing headphone volume and taking breaks from loud activities. By providing preventative information, a HIS empowers patients to take proactive steps in preserving their hearing and preventing future health issues.

Ongoing Management

You’ll notice a marked improvement in your hearing once you’ve had a hearing aid fitted. But there’s no guarantee that things will stay that way forever. Sometimes, hearing can get worse, or the hearing device that you’re using can begin to experience problems that limit the effectiveness of the instrument. If your hearing device isn’t working as well as it used to, then a general practitioner won’t be able to help you; but a hearing instrument specialist will. They can work to make alterations to the settings of the device, replace broken parts, or even service and clean the device. A hearing device can only work well if it’s in full working condition, and that’s something that hearing instrument specialists can help with.

As you can see above, there are plenty of good reasons to make an appointment with a hearing instrument specialist if you suspect that you have hearing loss, rather than with your general practitioner. Here at Bay Area Hearing Care Professionals, we offer a wide range of hearing-related services, including hearing evaluations and hearing aid fittings. If you think that you may have hearing loss, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our helpful members of staff by calling (727) 202-4330 to make an appointment.