What to do

What you should do if you have hearing loss?

The first thing to do is AVOIDING improvisation and DIY with devices presented as to solve any hearing loss or "Discomfort" in your ear.
The most appropriate way to manage it is consulting a doctor or the appropriate specialist.
Many people when they realize having a hearing impairment encountered some difficulties in identifying the right specialist to satisfy their need for "health".
Given that in the event of a real and effective need, first aid doctors are always a useful and valuable reference, hereafter are explained characteristics and main areas of interest of the various professional figures involved with
hearing medical problems. This should give a clearer view of which expert you should be heading to.

GENERAL DOCTOR

The first contact is the family doctor, who may propose and explain the proper procedure to follow or specialists to consult.
An alternative route you may take is the path of a private visit to the audiologist or otolaryngologist.

AUDIOLOGIST

He's a doctor specialized in audiology (science of hearing), that is the study and treatment of diseases of the ear.
His work is focused on solving all the pathological manifestations related to deafness (silence, speech disorder, mental changes), related therapies and prosthetic techniques.

OTOLARYNGOLOGY

He's the specialist who deals with medical and surgical treatment of Ear, Nose, Throat, and structures related head and neck. Commonly known under an acronym as "ENT".

Among the other professionals you may encounter during the the diagnosis and / or treatment of deafness:

AUDIOMETRIST

He's the health care worker who's aims are prevention and measurements of auditory system and vestibular diseases.
His activity focuses on performing non-invasive tests, psycho-acoustic and electrophysiological evaluations and measurements of auditory and vestibular system functionality.

AUDIOPROSTHESIST

He's the health care worker who's involved into supplying, adapting and controlling prosthetic aids for the correction of hearing impairment.
His activity is focused on prosthesis application by preparing the shape of the external ear canal by impression, the customization of hearing aid equipment and monitorization of the patient throughout the period of prosthesis adaptation.

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

The speech pathologist is a trained health care professional specialized in the rehabilitation of disorders of voice, speech and language.
He has an important role in many areas, his main area being the prevention and rehabilitation of language and communication disorders in children and adolescents, adults and the elderly.
In reference to doctors' diagnosis and prescription, within its competence, he carries out his activities, which include evaluation and assessment of communication skills, preparing an action plan, rehabilitation and continuous monitoring of the intervention.

You could have heard also of phoniatrists, which are a hybrid figure between laryngologist and speech pathologists, although they're not doctors indicated for the diagnosis and treatment of deafness. They exist in many european countries, but not in the US.

PHONIATRISTS

Specialized in research and treatment of diseases related to disorders of speech.
You should contact your local speech phoniatrist when, after excluding organic causes of disorders of the voice, you may only think of a dysphonia or a wrong way of speaking.
There are many people who do not coordinate well breathing with the movements of the vocal cords, or just use vocal cords the wrong way.
The phoniatrist will be able to configure the voice rehabilitation therapy and will enrole the speech therapist to cure the patient.