Does hearing loss always progress?

Hearing loss is a progressive condition that worsens over time. Symptoms appear so gradually, you may be completely unaware of your affliction for some time. Even when hearing loss is suspected, it takes an average of seven years for a person to seek medical treatment.

What are the symptoms of hearing loss?

Knowing the signs is helpful in spurring you to take action sooner. Any of the following might indicate hearing loss: Frequently asking people to repeat what they have said. Feeling like others mumble when they speak. Having difficulty following conversations in which background noise is present. Turning up the volume on the television or radio. Avoiding social gatherings in noisy places. Often, a family member or friend will be the first to notice a hearing problem. Since treatment is most effective when begun early, if you think you might be suffering from diminished hearing, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist. The sooner, the better!

How is hearing loss diagnosed?

In order to diagnose hearing loss, your doctor will review your medical history, discuss your symptoms, and give you a physical examination followed by a hearing evaluation consisting of a series of audiological tests. Your physician and audiologist will work together to recommend a hearing treatment plan designed to meet your needs.

What is conductive hearing loss?

Conductive hearing loss occurs when there are problems in the outer ear, ear canal, eardrum or middle ear. It can be caused by any of the following: Ear infection. Fluid in the ears. Malformation or abnormalities of the outer or middle ear. Impacted earwax. Foreign object in the ear. Allergies. Perforated eardrum. Otosclerosis. Benign tumors. Conductive hearing loss is often correctable with surgery or medications (typically antibiotics). Alternatively, it may be treated with hearing aids.

What is sensorineural hearing loss?

Sensorineural hearing loss involves a problem with the inner ear, and is frequently referred to as “nerve deafness.” It may be caused by any of these: Noise exposure. Head trauma. Aging (presbycusis). Viral disease. Autoimmune ear disease. Meniere’s disease. Malformation or abnormality of the inner ear. Otosclerosis. Tumors. Sensorineural hearing loss can sometimes be treated with medications (corticosteroids) or surgery. More likely, hearing aids will be required.

What is mixed hearing loss?

Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both types. Treatment might involve a combination of medication, surgery and/or hearing aids. In addition to the different types of hearing loss, it is important to consider the extent to which a patient is experiencing symptoms. Hearing loss is further categorized as being either monaural or binaural.

What is unilateral hearing loss?

Unilateral hearing loss (sometimes referred to as single-sided deafness) affects one ear only, while bilateral hearing loss affects both ears. Patients with unilateral hearing loss have normal hearing in one ear and impaired hearing in the other; they have difficulty hearing on one side and localizing sound. This type of hearing loss is usually associated with conductive causes. Individuals with bilateral hearing loss have impaired hearing in both ears. The condition is most often treated with hearing aids (two are more effective than one) or cochlear implants.

What is noise-induced hearing loss?

Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common type experienced by younger individuals. It can be caused by exposure to a single loud sound, such as a gunshot or explosion, or by continuous exposure to loud noise over a period of time. When sounds exceed 85 decibels (dB) they are considered hazardous to your hearing health. Continuous exposure to volume levels that high causes permanent damage to the hair cells in your ears. Activities that put people at risk for noise-induced hearing loss include hunting, riding a motorcycle, listening to music at high volumes, playing in a band and attending rock concerts. An estimated 15 percent of Americans aged 20 to 69 have hearing loss that may have been caused by noise exposure. This type of hearing loss can be prevented by wearing earplugs and protective devices.

Is hearing loss preventable?

Protecting your ears is the key to hearing loss prevention. If your job exposes you to hazardous noises, make sure proper safety equipment is provided, and that it meets state and federal regulations. Hearing protection – earplugs and earmuffs – is essential when working around loud equipment. It’s always a good idea to bring along earplugs if you’re participating in a noisy recreational activity (e.g., a football game or rock concert), as well. At home, limit your exposure to noisy activities, and keep the volume down – on the television, stereo and especially when it comes to personal listening devices like MP3 players. Prevent other types of hearing loss by refraining from inserting cotton swabs or other objects into your ears, blowing your nose gently through both nostrils and quitting smoking. Studies show those who use tobacco are more likely to suffer from hearing loss. Regardless of your age, have your hearing tested regularly. Early detection is key. While noise-related hearing loss can’t be reversed, you can still take steps to avoid further damage to your hearing.

Hearing Loss | Palmetto ENT & Allergy

If you have sudden, severe hearing loss, you will notice right away that your ability to hear has decreased significantly or disappeared totally in the affected ear. For example, you may snap your fingers next to the affected ear and not hear it, or you may put the telephone receiver against your ear and hear nothing.

If your hearing loss is gradual, symptoms may be more subtle. You may have difficulty understanding conversations, either in person or on the telephone. Family members may complain that you play the radio or TV too loudly. You may ask them to repeat what they say or frequently misunderstand what they are saying.

Some diseases and conditions that cause hearing loss may produce additional symptoms, including:

Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Discharge or bleeding from the ear
Deep earache, or pain in the ear canal
Pressure or a “stuffy” feeling inside the ears
Dizziness or problems with balance or equilibrium
Nausea

How to Diagnose Hearing Loss

After you describe your symptoms, the doctor will ask if anyone in your family has (or has had) hearing loss. He/she will want to know if you have been exposed to loud noises, trauma of the ear or head, or ear infections. To rule out the possibility that medications may be the cause, your doctor will review the prescription and over-the-counter drugs you take. The physician will examine you and look closely at your ears. This may include:

Examination of your ear canal and eardrum using a lighted instrument for looking inside the ears (otoscope)
The Rinne test, in which a vibrating tuning fork is placed on the bone behind your ear to test for conductive hearing loss
The Weber test, in which a vibrating tuning fork is placed in the middle of your forehead to help diagnose one-sided hearing loss
Audioscopy testing, in which the doctor uses a hand-held device to generate tones of various intensities to find out if you can hear them
Our audiologists will test your hearing sensitivity (with audiometry) and check for middle-ear problems by measuring your eardrum’s ability to reflect sounds (impedance testing). Further testing and treatment will follow.

Palmetto ENT & Allergy offers a variety of high quality hearing aids including ReSound, Phonak and many others.

Palmetto ENT & Allergy provides a complete range of digital hearing instruments, along with high tech specialty products and complementary wireless communications systems, to help patients advance their quality of life through improved hearing.

How to Treat Hearing Loss

Both age-related and noise-related hearing loss tend to be permanent. Depending on the severity of your hearing loss, your doctor may recommend a hearing aid or an implant to improve your ability to communicate with others. A hearing aid amplifies sounds electronically and is effective for many people with age-related hearing loss. Newer digital technology has produced smaller, more powerful devices. A cochlear implant is a device that translates sounds into electrical signals that can be carried by the eighth cranial nerve to the brain.

Certain other forms of hearing loss may be treated medically or surgically:

Otosclerosis – For mild cases, a hearing aid is usually the first option. In severe cases, one of the small bones is surgically replaced with a tiny piston-like prosthesis.
Acoustic neuroma – Treatment includes surgery or highly focused radiation therapy.
Meniere’s disease – There is no cure. Some people with this disease improve with a personalized diet plan (such as limiting intake of salt, caffeine or alcohol), quitting smoking, or medications to reduce fluid retention in the ear. In some cases, surgery may be considered.
Traumatic hearing loss – A damaged eardrum can sometimes be repaired surgically by using tough, fibrous connective tissue (muscle fascia).
Drug-induced hearing loss – Stopping the problem medication may reverse hearing loss or prevent it from getting worse.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss – In most cases, when the cause is unknown, this condition is treated with steroids.
Other – A dense plug of earwax can be dissolved or gently removed from your ear canal by your doctor; also, antibiotics can treat hearing loss caused by ear infections.