Do you enjoy

being around people as much as you used to?

Have you been

turning down social invitations from your friends lately?

This may sound

bizarre, but those are symptoms of people with hearing loss. Because they

have trouble understanding conversations, they begin to avoid being around

other people.

Of course,

there are other reasons why people isolate, but hearing loss is one of

them.

Most of us

lose some of our hearing as we reach our sixties. And the loss is so gradual

that we hardly notice it. But it affects our lives in so many ways. It

can cause social problems, even marital problems.

It's a shame,

because there's help for people with hearing loss. But they can't be helped

until they accept the fact that they might have a problem.

To find out

if you have a problem, get an examination by an audiologist.

Why an audiologist?

Because they know the most about hearing. They're college-trained with

master's or doctoral degrees in audiology. Many have a Certificate of

Clinical Competence in audiology and are Fellows of the American Academy

of Audiology.

Another reason

is that audiologists offer the full range of solutions to hearing problems.

(It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that if you go to someone

whose only business is selling hearing aids, chances are he's going to

try to sell you hearing aids.)

their graduate education, professional certification and licensure, audiologists

are the most qualified professionals to perform hearing tests, refer patients

for medical treatment and provide hearing rehabilitation services.

Hearing aid

options are thoroughly discussed with each potential user based on the

results of a complete hearing aid test battery and the individual needs

of each patient. Follow-up care is routine from dispensing audiologists.

People who

have problems with their hearing can begin to hear their friends and family

so much better and the quality of life can be greatly improved. All of

my patients agree with a sign in my office that says, "A hearing

aid is less conspicuous than hearing loss."

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