Issues with the ears don’t always emerge suddenly. A more likely scenario is that they develop gradually. That means it may take you some time to notice that a problem exists. Once you do recognize that something’s not right, calling an ear doctor Fairfax VA and scheduling an examination is a must. Here are four signs that now is the time to make that appointment.
A Recurring Pain in the Ear
While it’s not constant, there are episodes when one or both ears have a dull pain develop. The pain seems to last for a day or two and then fades out. It’s not been a big deal since it doesn’t seem to affect your hearing. Since applying heat seems to dull the discomfort, you’ve not sought medical treatment up to this point.
Rather than continuing to react when the pain returns, now is the time to find out what’s causing it to happen. The problem could be something minor that can be corrected on an outpatient basis. It could also be an early warning sign of a serious health issue. You won’t know until after the exam is done and the test results are back.
Frequent Ear Aches
You do seem to have ear aches several times over the course of the year. They can get painful at times, but you’ve made it through using various home remedies. You do seem to notice that they are happening more often the last year or two. That means it’s time to stop relying on those remedies and seek medical attention.
Like the recurring pain, ear aches can be a sign of something serious. It could also be due to a buildup of wax or even a sign of a sinus infection. Once the results are in, it will be easier to know what sort of treatment is needed.
Any Apparent Decrease in the Ability to Hear
Hearing loss can come about so gradually that people don’t recognize what’s happening for some time. It’s usually when others mention that something’s up that people begin to take notice and wonder if there is something wrong. If you’re at that stage, the best move is to call an ear doctor Fairfax VA and arrange for a hearing test.
The test and the accompanying exam may reveal there’s a reversible solution for the degree of hearing loss that you’re experiencing. It may also confirm the loss is permanent. If so, the next step will be to identify hearing aids that can compensate for some or all of the loss.
Ringing in the Ears After an Accident
Perhaps you’ve never had any kind of issue with the ears prior to a recent accident. Since then, there’s been a ringing that won’t go away. At first, it was barely noticeable. The problem is that it seems to be getting worse.
An exam by a qualified ENT will determine what sort of damage the accident caused and what can be done to correct the issue. You may find that certain treatments will minimize or even eliminate the ringing entirely.
Don’t hesitate to seek help if you have any type of ear issue. Doing so will make it all the easier to discover the reason and allow you to seek the right kind of treatment now rather than letting the problem get worse.
