An audiologist is a healthcare professional specializing in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders. They are trained to evaluate the entire auditory and vestibular system across all ages. Seeking professional help is a proactive step toward maintaining overall health, as hearing and balance issues can significantly affect communication and safety. This guidance outlines the specific situations and symptoms that necessitate a professional audiological evaluation.
Signs of Sudden or Gradual Hearing Change
A sudden change in hearing should be treated as a medical emergency, requiring immediate attention from a healthcare provider. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is defined by a rapid loss of at least 30 decibels in three connected frequencies, often occurring all at once or over a period of up to three days. This rapid decline can make conversational speech sound like a whisper and may be accompanied by a loud “pop” sensation, ear fullness, or ringing.
Gradual changes are more common and can be difficult to notice initially. A person may frequently ask others to repeat themselves, particularly in noisy environments like busy restaurants or large gatherings. They might also need to turn up the volume of the television or radio significantly higher than what others find comfortable.
Difficulty understanding speech is often more noticeable than simply failing to hear sounds, as sensorineural hearing loss primarily affects the ability to hear high-frequency consonant sounds. This can lead to the perception that people are mumbling, even when they are speaking clearly. Noticing a change in hearing after an illness, head trauma, or intense exposure to loud noise, such as a concert or machinery, also warrants a prompt evaluation.
Persistent Tinnitus and Aural Symptoms
Tinnitus is the perception of sound—such as ringing, buzzing, or hissing—that does not originate from an external source. While short-lived ringing after loud noise exposure is common, persistent tinnitus lasting more than one week should be evaluated by an audiologist. The presence of tinnitus is frequently linked to underlying hearing loss, and an audiologist can perform a comprehensive assessment to understand this connection.
Other aural symptoms that warrant a visit include hyperacusis, which is an increased sensitivity to normal environmental sounds, making them seem uncomfortably loud. Feelings of ear fullness, pressure, or chronic congestion not relieved by typical cold or allergy treatments should also prompt a consultation. If the internal noise pulses in rhythm with a person’s heartbeat, known as pulsatile tinnitus, a medical evaluation should be sought promptly to rule out specific vascular issues.
Age and Routine Screening Guidelines
Routine hearing checks are a proactive measure to establish a baseline and monitor changes over time. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recommends that adults undergo a hearing screening once per decade. This frequency should increase to every three years after the age of 50, especially for those who have risk factors like a history of noise exposure or a family history of hearing loss.
For children, routine screening begins immediately with universal newborn hearing screening, recommended within the first month of life. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends continued audiometry screening at the following ages:
- Ages four, five, six, eight, and ten.
- Three times during adolescence: ages 11–14, 15–17, and 18–21.
Individuals with high occupational noise exposure, such as construction workers, musicians, or manufacturing employees, should consider annual hearing checks to monitor for noise-induced damage.
Vestibular and Balance Concerns
The inner ear houses the vestibular system, which regulates balance and spatial orientation. An audiologist is the appropriate professional to evaluate symptoms like vertigo or chronic unsteadiness when walking. These symptoms may signal a disorder within the inner ear’s balance mechanism.
Specialized audiologists, often called vestibular audiologists, conduct diagnostic tests to assess inner ear function, such as Videonystagmography (VNG). VNG measures eye movements, which are directly linked to the vestibular system, to help pinpoint the source of the balance issue. An audiologist’s evaluation focuses on disorders like Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) or Vestibular Neuritis, which are distinct from general causes of lightheadedness like low blood pressure or dehydration.