HEARING LOSS
Our ability to hear is one of our 5 (some say 6) senses. Yet we don’t realize how important it’s until we don’t have it. The good news is… there is hope for people with hearing loss.
Do you think you may be suffering from hearing loss?
Take the survey below for a preliminary assessment. Please note this survey is not diagnostic, for additional insight we recommend you schedule an appointment.
Our office is able to provide a comprehensive approach to testing hearing with state-of-the-art diagnostic tests. We’re able to offer a full array of the most technologically advanced hearing aids and other assisted hearing devices.
TYPES OF HEARING LOSS
SENSORINEURAL
CONDUCTIVE
MIXED
The nerve that goes from the ear to the brain stops functioning well either slowly or suddenly. Most commonly, we lose our hearing as we age. Genetics do play a role. If your family members lost their hearing at an early age, this might be your destiny as well.
This type of hearing loss is due to issues with the sound traveling through the ear before it gets to the nerve. There might be a problem with the ear bones in the middle ear. Other causes include a hole in the eardrum (tympanic membrane), and fluid in the middle ear from infection. Even wax in the ear canal can cause conductive hearing loss if it’s bad enough.
A combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss in one or both ears. The hearing loss does not have to be the same on both sides.
Most hearing loss is gradual. However, if you feel you have suddenly lost your hearing overnight, this might be an emergency to see the doctor and get a hearing test. There might be some medication the doctor would prescribe early to try and reverse the sudden hearing loss.
Signs of hearing loss
- Difficulty hearing people and misunderstanding what they say.
- Difficulty hearing in crowded places or in situations where there is a lot of background noise.
- Finding yourself asking people to repeat themselves frequently.
- Listening to music or the television at higher volumes than other people need.
- A buzzing sound or a cricket-like sound in one or both ears. This is called tinnitus.
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is when you hear ringing or a sound like crickets in one or both ears. These sounds are not external, so other people can not hear them. They are sounds that are actually produced by your ears. Tinnitus is common as we begin to lose hearing. It’s important to have a hearing test when you have tinnitus, as this may be a sign of hearing loss or even grow on the hearing nerve.
(link to make an appt) (link to the blog on tinnitus)
HEARING LOSS PREVENTION
FIVE WAYS TO AVOID HEARING LOSS
1. Avoid loud noises. This is the best preventive measure to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.
2. Always wear earplugs to concerts, sporting events, and of course when firing weapons. In fact, wearing insert foam earplugs as well as covering the ears with sound canceling headphones is crucial to prevent hearing loss from gunshots.
3. When listening to music, keep the music at a reasonable volume. There are settings on smartphones that allow you to choose the maximum decibel level for safe listening.
4. Be careful about listening to music with the windows open in the car. You have to turn the music on so loud to be able to hear the music over the wind noise that this can be dangerous to your hearing.
5. Get your hearing tested regularly to ensure you’re not losing hearing.
HEARING LOSS TREATMENT
HEARING AIDS
A hearing aid is a very sophisticated electronic device that you wear in or behind your ear. It makes sounds louder from the environment This allows the person with hearing loss to better communicate with others. Hearing aids are like a small computer and the more advanced aids can alter the sound based on the type of environment the user is in such as a quiet room, large concert hall, or noisy restaurant. Hearing aids need to be custom-fitted for you and your specific hearing loss.