Warning Signs of Hearing Loss
If you experience these warning signs repeatedly or in combination, they may indicate a hearing loss:
1. People seem to mumble more frequently.
2. You experience ringing in your ears.
3. You often ask people to repeat themselves.
4. Your family complains that you play the radio or TV too loudly.
5. You no longer hear normal household sounds, such as the dripping of a faucet or the ringing of a doorbell.
6. You have difficulty understanding a conversation when in a large group or crowd.
7. You have trouble understanding all the words in a conversation.
8. You find telephone conversation increasingly difficult.
9. You have trouble hearing when your back is turned to the speaker.
10. You have been told you speak too loudly.


Types and Causes of Hearing Loss"
-Conductive Hearing Loss

Conductive hearing loss is often temporary and may be corrected.  Conductive loss stems from problems of the outer or middle ear and can be caused by:

• Infection
• Otosclerosis
• Build-up of wax or fluid
• Punctured eardrum

This type of hearing loss can typically be treated with wax removal, medicine or surgery.


-Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss.  In fact, it accounts for 90% of all adult hearing problems and can be caused by aging and noise.  With sensorineural loss:

• There are problems with the cochlea and the auditory nerve.
• Sounds not only diminish in volume, but become distorted.
• High frequency sounds and some spoken words are first to go.
• Low frequency sounds, such as vowels, are heard better.

This type of hearing loss can be treated with amplification (hearing instruments) and occasionally, surgery. 




-Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss is a hearing loss where both conductive and sensorineural losses occur at the same time.

 

-Sudden Hearing Loss

Sudden hearing loss may be corrected if medical intervention occurs within the first 72 hours.  Call your ENT or our office immediately if you have noticed a sudden change in your hearing.  

 

-Temporary Hearing Loss
There are times where hearing loss is temporary.  If you have trouble hearing clearly, don't worry.  You might not have a permanent hearing loss at all.  Temporary hearing loss is common and can be caused by any of the following:
• Too much earwax
• Sinus problems
• Allergies
• Ear infections

 

 

 

What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the name for the perception of sounds such as ringing, buzzing or hissing when these sounds are not present in the environment.  In the United States, an estimated 50 million people experience tinnitus and nearly 12 million people a year seek medical advice.


What causes it?
The onset of tinnitus is often related to exposure to loud sounds, which can cause damage to the sensory cells of the inner ear.  It has also been associated with excessive ear wax, ear infections, high blood pressure, the aging process, and sensory nerve disorders.  Activities which can cause tinnitus include drinking alcohol or caffeine, taking aspirin or antibiotics, and cigarette smoking.


What can you do?
If you have, or suspect you have, tinnitus, you should be evaluated to determine what options are available for managing it.  When it is determined that there are no specific medical issues involved, there are several options to consider.  In the majority of cases, the individual experiencing tinnitus also has a hearing loss.  The use of a hearing aid to amplify sounds can help cover up the tinnitus and make it less distracting.  Other devices are also available that generate sounds to help mask the tinnitus. Combined with counseling from an audiologist, these devices can be used to teach the individual how to reduce or remove the distraction of the tinnitus.