The worst winter in years for many regions of the country is about to give way to the worst allergy season. Allergists are predicting a long, uncomfortable spring for allergy sufferers in because of the below average temperatures and higher-than-average snow/rain fall totals.
Allergies are defined as an abnormal reaction of the body to a previously encountered allergen introduced by inhalation, ingestion, injection, or skin contact. Some allergy sufferers will experience common symptoms like a runny nose, wheezing, skin rash and/or itchy, watery eyes. However many people also experience the following:
- A feeling of pressure in one or both ears
- A ringing sensation in one or both ears
- A decline in the ability to hear
- Problems with balance
Keep in mind that if you wear hearing aids it is possible to notice an additional amount of hearing loss during your allergy season. This is because allergies can cause a build-up of fluid in the middle ear space lessening the ability of sound waves to travel from the outer ear to the inner ear. The impact of the allergies on your ability to hear will fluctuate as your response to the allergen changes.
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It is also possible for the performance of your hearing aid to suffer during periods when pollen in the air is thick. Pollen can settle in the microphone ports of the hearing aid and impact their ability to function normally.
Schedule a time to visit the office; we can discuss the impact of spring allergies on both your hearing and your hearing aid. Call us at 617-332-7244.
