Hearing health is about more than just hearing aids
Hanan Merrill (left), encourages his clients to follow up with annual comprehensive hearing assessments to monitor for potential changes and stay ahead of hearing health.
Hearing care practitioners do more than just fit you with hearing aids, they offer a variety of services that can both improve your ability to hear the world around you and reduce your risk for further hearing loss.
“Hearing aids are just one aspect of hearing care, and while they’re certainly a big part of the job, it’s important to note that our other hearing care services also play an important role in your overall hearing health,” says Hanan Merrill, owner of Nanaimo Hearing Clinic.
Hearing care is often associated with hearing aids but comprehensive care also includes help to protect your hearing before hearing loss occurs, or worsens.
“While there is often no reversing hearing loss once it’s happened, we can slow the progression of further hearing loss and its effects through various treatments. We can also provide insight into exactly what type of hearing loss you’re experiencing, which can be helpful when discussing treatment options,” Merrill says.
Annual comprehensive hearing assessments are one way to monitor changes in your hearing and get a head of problems before they escalate. It’s also important to take hearing protection seriously and take proper precautions when in loud environments that pose a risk to your ears.
Merrill suggests using proper hearing protection when in situations where sounds are reaching above 85 decibels, such as construction worksites, concerts and warehouses.
Signs that excessive noise exposure has potentially caused lasting damage include sounds being muffled or experiencing a whistling or ringing in your ears when leaving the loud environment. Continued exposure to excessive noise or regular exposure to loud music when using headphones, can lead to permanent damage.
“Health care professionals have warned of the damage that excessively loud music can cause for generations now, but it continues to be an area of concern,” Merrill says. “Still we hope to inspire our communities to take care of their ears and not take their ability to hear for granted – wear hearing protection when needed and remind loved ones to turn down their tunes and be mindful of how loud they are playing their favourite songs.”
For more hearing tips, book an appointment with Nanaimo Hearing Clinic by calling 250-585-4100 or visit nanaimohearingclinic.com/contact. Find Nanaimo Hearing Clinic at 501-5800 Turner Rd. in Cactus Club Plaza, Nanaimo.
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