Your ears need just as much care as the rest of your body. Whether you suffered an illness, had an accident, or have hereditary issues, you can suffer hearing loss at any age. Here are five signs it may be time to see your local audiologist.

1. Ear Pain

Ear pain can emerge in different ways. If you have inflammation or fluid buildup, it may put pressure on the eardrum. We've seen that if it's just an infection that'll go away on its own, it should subside within a week. However, if it's still lingering after a week and interfering with your hearing, it's time to see a doctor and a local audiologist.

2. Problems Hearing

Do you find yourself constantly asking others to repeat themselves? Are you beginning to misunderstand people or have difficulty hearing in situations where it wasn't a problem before? Have crowds become stressful because you have problems understanding people standing right next to you and distinguishing what they're saying from what others are saying? With hearing problems, even one-on-one conversations can become more difficult. Whether it's in person or over the phone, hearing loss can make it hard to understand words spoken at an audible level. If that's the case, you're experiencing hearing problems that should be checked out by a local professional.

3. Tinnitus

Be aware of hearing a ringing or buzzing sound in your ear. This buzzing can happen due to high blood pressure, head or neck tumors, age-related hearing loss, or inner ear damage. So, if tinnitus has occurred frequently, contact your local audiologist to check it out.

4. Earwax Buildup

Earwax naturally forms in the ears as a way to protect them from infection. Sometimes, too much of it can build up and not naturally clean itself out. When that happens, your ears may feel stuffy and cause hearing problems. It may even cause you to get a little dizzy and have an earache.

Hearing issues may be more common than you think. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, about 30 million Americans aged 12 years or older have been diagnosed with hearing loss after standard examinations. If you notice signs of hearing problems, reach out to Trebil Hearing Center for an appointment. Our team of audiologists has over 40 years of experience and looks forward to assisting you.