Hearing Loss

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You may have hearing loss, and not even be aware of it. People of all ages experience gradual hearing loss, often due to the natural aging process or long exposure to loud noise. Other causes of hearing loss include viruses or bacteria, heart conditions or stroke, head injuries, tumors, and certain medications. Common signs of hearing loss include difficulty understanding phone conversations, poor listening comprehension, straining to hear over background noise, and asking for words to be repeated.​

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How is Hearing Loss Treated?

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Treatment for hearing loss will depend on how your hearing loss was acquired. Reversible hearing loss is often acquired through exposure to loud sounds or ear infections. Treatment for this type of hearing loss involves using medicine to deal with the issue as well as time to allow the ear to heal. Injuries to the head can also result in hearing loss, which can be reversible or permanent depending on the severity of the injury. Sometimes all that needs to be treated is the buildup of earwax in your ear.

 

Treatment for permanent hearing loss can help make sounds louder, but does not restore hearing. Hearing aids or implanted hearing devices, like a cochlear implant, are necessary aids for dealing with permanent hearing loss. With recent advances in digital hearing aid technology, more people can be successfully treated with amplification.  

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