Sometimes the Right First Step Is Medical Care
Most adults with gradual hearing concerns can begin with a comprehensive hearing evaluation. However, certain symptoms should be evaluated by a physician or ear, nose and throat specialist before a routine hearing-aid appointment.
Some hearing clinics are part of large corporate systems that use centralized call centers and business models built around appointment volume or product sales. That can make it difficult to get individual questions answered before a visit.
Colorado Hearing takes a different approach. When you call, our local team will listen to your concerns and help determine the appropriate next step. Sometimes that means scheduling a hearing evaluation with us. Other times, doing what is right for the patient means recommending medical care first.
Call 970-318-2010 if you are unsure where to begin.
Sudden or Rapid Hearing Loss
A sudden loss of hearing in one or both ears is a medical emergency. It may occur all at once or develop rapidly over several days. Other symptoms can include tinnitus, ear fullness or dizziness.
Do not assume the change is caused by allergies, congestion or earwax, and do not wait for a routine hearing-aid appointment. Contact a physician or ear, nose and throat specialist immediately. Prompt medical evaluation can affect the likelihood of recovering hearing when treatment is appropriate.
Hearing testing may be included in the medical evaluation, but it should not delay urgent medical care.
New or Severe Ear Pain
A hearing test does not diagnose an ear infection or determine the medical cause of acute ear pain. If you have new or severe ear pain, contact a medical provider first.
Brian Bennett, BC-HIS, can examine the ear canal with a video otoscope, but he is not a physician and cannot diagnose an infection or prescribe medication. Once the medical concern has been evaluated or resolved, Colorado Hearing can complete hearing testing when appropriate.
Fluid, Blood or Other Ear Drainage
Drainage from the ear can be associated with an infection, injury, damaged eardrum or another condition requiring medical care. Contact a healthcare provider if you notice fluid, pus or blood coming from the ear, particularly when it is accompanied by pain, fever, headache or hearing loss.
Do not insert a swab, hearing aid or other object into a draining ear unless a medical provider has instructed you to do so.
Significant Dizziness or Vertigo
The hearing and balance systems are closely connected, but dizziness and vertigo can have many possible causes. A hearing-aid clinic cannot provide a complete medical diagnosis for balance symptoms.
Contact a medical provider when dizziness is new, severe, persistent or occurs without a known hearing concern. Seek emergency care if dizziness is accompanied by symptoms such as sudden weakness, facial drooping, difficulty speaking, confusion, fainting or an unusually severe headache.
Ear Injury or a Foreign Object
Medical care should come first if:
- An object is lodged in the ear canal
- The ear was injured by a fall, impact or sudden pressure change
- There is bleeding from the ear
- The outer ear is significantly swollen, red or visibly injured
- You suspect a damaged or perforated eardrum
Do not attempt to remove a deeply lodged object or probe the ear canal at home.
When Earwax Is the Concern
Earwax buildup can cause fullness, discomfort, tinnitus or temporary hearing changes. Unlike an infection or injury, excessive earwax may be something Colorado Hearing can address directly after examining the ear canal.
Brian Bennett has completed more than 5,000 ear cleanings using methods selected for the condition of the ear and the type of buildup. If the examination reveals a concern outside his scope, he will recommend medical evaluation instead.
Learn more about professional earwax removal in Montrose.
What Happens When You Call Colorado Hearing?
Our team may ask when your symptoms began, whether the change was sudden or gradual and whether you have pain, drainage, dizziness or a recent injury. Your answers help us determine whether to:
- Schedule a comprehensive adult hearing evaluation
- Schedule an ear examination or cleaning
- Recommend that you contact a physician first
- Direct you to urgent or emergency medical care
The goal is not simply to fill an appointment time. It is to help you start with the provider best equipped to address your immediate needs.
When You Can Proceed With a Hearing Test
After a medical concern has been evaluated or resolved, hearing testing can document your current hearing and determine whether additional care is appropriate.
A comprehensive evaluation may include video otoscopy, pure-tone testing, speech testing and tympanometry. If the results indicate permanent hearing loss, Brian Bennett can explain professionally fitted prescription hearing-aid options. If further medical care is indicated, he will refer you to the appropriate provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I schedule a hearing test for sudden hearing loss?
Sudden hearing loss requires immediate medical attention. Contact a physician or ear, nose and throat specialist rather than waiting for a routine hearing-aid appointment. Hearing testing may be included as part of that urgent evaluation.
Can a hearing specialist diagnose an ear infection?
No. A hearing specialist can examine the ear and identify findings that warrant referral, but diagnosing an infection and prescribing medication require an appropriate medical provider.
Can Colorado Hearing remove earwax before testing?
Often, yes. If earwax blocks the canal or could interfere with accurate testing, Brian Bennett can determine whether professional cleaning is appropriate. Some ear conditions require medical clearance instead.
What if I am unsure whether my symptoms are urgent?
Call 970-318-2010 and describe what you are experiencing. Our team can help determine whether to schedule with Colorado Hearing or contact a medical provider. Call 911 for symptoms of a medical emergency.
Will Colorado Hearing refer me elsewhere even if that means not booking an appointment?
Yes. When your symptoms require medical diagnosis or treatment outside the clinic’s scope, our team will recommend that you see an appropriate medical provider first.
Call Before Scheduling if You Have Concerning Ear Symptoms
If your hearing has changed gradually and you do not have urgent symptoms, a hearing evaluation may be the appropriate next step. If you have sudden hearing loss, pain, drainage, significant dizziness or an ear injury, medical care may need to come first.
Call Colorado Hearing at 970-318-2010 so our local team can help you determine where to begin.