Importance Of Audiologists And Hearing Health

National Audiology Awareness Month is recognized each year in October. The American Academy of Audiology (AAA) established National Audiology Awareness Month in 2008 to raise awareness about hearing health and the necessity of protecting our hearing abilities. The AAA’s (and subsequently The Canadian Academy of Audiology’s) objective is to advance the profession of audiology by increasing public understanding of the subject and educating the public on the importance of hearing protection.

We live in a noisy world, and the statistics on hearing loss are rather alarming. Hearing loss affects around 1.5 billion people (almost 20% of the world’s population). About 430 million people have moderate or higher levels of hearing loss. Approximately 700 million people will have severe hearing loss by 2050.

So, between the raking of leaves in your yard and pumpkin-spiced lattes, we encourage you to make some time and have your hearing tested this October at Expert Hearing Solutions in Thunder Bay.

What is an Audiologist?

An Audiologist is a qualified medical professional who not only evaluates but also diagnoses and treats your hearing health. Audiologists provide hearing services to help people become more involved in crucial aspects of their lives and improve their overall quality of life. Hearing loss can cause people to feel uncomfortable in certain situations. The audiologist’s goal is to put you at ease and assist you to hear better in various environments such as work, social or at home watching TV.

An audiologist can help treat several hearing concerns, including the following:

How to improve communication with family and friends for a better quality of life.
Check your eligibility for hearing aids, cochlear implants, and implantable hearing devices.
Plan and carry out hearing conservation programs.
Check the ear canals and eardrums for unwanted earwax.
Create personalized molds from ear impressions.
Choose and personalize hearing aids and assistive devices.
Assess and address balance issues.
Hearing evaluations and screenings for suspected hearing impairments. Testing will establish the presence of a hearing loss and define the type and severity of the loss.
Discuss how to protect one’s hearing against the impacts of noise.
Educate clients on handling and dealing with ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Treat patients with central auditory processing abnormalities.
Implement audiology rehabilitation programs such as speech reading, language development, and communication skills.
Advise and instruct patients and their loved ones on hearing health, management, and treatment strategies.

Hearing Health is crucial for people of all ages and hearing loss can make it challenging to engage in and enjoy many of life’s valued moments:

Hearing a loved one’s voice
Enjoying a child’s laughter
Engaging in meaningful conversations with friends and family
Listening to the sounds of nature
Watching your favourite TV shows
Attending a concert

Social isolation, sadness, and chronic sickness have all been associated with hearing loss. Given the importance of hearing for your work, interpersonal relationships, accomplishments, and safety – the cost of hearing loss is enormous.

Everyone can benefit from precautions and healthy hearing habits such as regularly scheduled hearing care appointments, remembering to use appropriate ear protection for your environment, and maintaining overall physical and mental health, regardless of age, occupation, or gender.

Celebrate Audiology Awareness Month with us! We would love to hear from you. Please make an appointment with Expert Hearing Solutions in Thunder Bay to have your hearing tested by our hearing professionals.

References:

Who Are Audiologists, and What Do They Do? Retrieved from asha.org: https://www.asha.org/public/who-are-audiologists
Expert Hearing Solutions. Hearing Health. Retrieved from experthearingthunderbay.com: https://experthearingthunderbay.com/locations/memorial-ave-thunder-bay-on/
Why Are Audiologists Essential? Retrieved from hawaiimobileaudiology.com: https://hawaiimobileaudiology.com/blog/why-are-audiologists-essential
Deafness And Hearing Loss. Retrieved from who.int: https://www.who.int/health-topics/hearing-loss

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