Hearing loss has three main types and can potentially be reversed. The first step in investigating a treatment to restore your hearing is to speak with your doctor. They might suggest you meet with an otolaryngologist ENT who specializes in the ear, nose, throat, and neck. Your doctor or your ENT can diagnose what kind of hearing loss you have. They can give you suggestions for effective treatment options for your condition.
If your hearing loss is irreversible, you can find support from resources for the hearing impaired and deaf communities. Hearing loss typically occurs gradually over…. SNHL is a natural part of the aging process for many people. However, exposure to loud noises can also cause permanent damage to your inner ear or…. Hearing aids for tinnitus come in a variety of styles.
They can also be used for multiple hearing loss levels. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss SSHL occurs when you lose your hearing very quickly. It can happen instantly or over a span of several days. Noise-induced hearing loss results from repeated loud noises that damage the delicate structures in your ear.
Learn how it happens here. Ear infections can sometimes cause hearing loss due to inflammation and fluid buildup. Learn more about how long hearing loss typically lasts with an…. Conductive hearing loss is when a problem with the outer or middle ear makes it difficult to hear soft sounds. We explain causes, diagnosis, and…. What is TruHearing? We review what to know if you're looking for hearing aids and hearing health services.
There are many things to look out for when buying hearing aids. This article gives you must-know tips on hearing aid types, costs, financing options…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Common surgeries performed on the ears include:. A cochlear implant is a surgery for adults, and, more commonly, children who have no, or very little, residual hearing. It works by bypassing a severely damaged cochlea to send electrical impulses to the hearing nerves that can be translated by the brain as meaningful sound.
If you have significant hearing loss, you may wonder if you can just skip hearing aids and go right to an implant. Before someone who still has some hearing can be considered a candidate, they must have tried hearing aids without success. Good news : Seniors can get cochlear implants , too. Bone-anchored hearing systems , also called BAHAs, are surgically implanted devices. They're typically used for people who have hearing loss in one ear , or who have outer ear or ear canal malformations, such as microtia.
Surgery involves implanting a small metal device into the mastoid bone behind the ear. After the area has healed, the ENT or an audiologist fits the wearer with a device similar to a hearing aid hat fits snugly over the bone implant. This devices converts sound to vibrations, which stimulate sound waves in the inner ear via the implant. Conductive hearing loss can result from the tiny bones of the middle ear becoming immobile and ineffective for transmitting sound to the inner ear.
Otosclerosis is a common reason this can happen, and it results from extra bone material forming around the footplate of the stapes, the innermost bone of the middle ear. A stapedectomy is a procedure in which the stapes is replaced with a prosthesis. This surgery is reserved for specific medical conditions that create conductive hearing loss and is not used for sensorineural hearing loss.
Considered a minor surgery, this outpatient procedure can be done right in the ENT's otolaryngologist office. Middle ear, or pressure equalization PE tubes, are used to alleviate pressure buildup behind the eardrum in cases of middle ear infection or fluid that cannot drain through the Eustachian tubes. This surgery isn't used to restore hearing per se, but it does help relieve fluid buildup that may be causing temporary hearing loss.
Children are the most common candidates for PE tubes because their not-yet-developed ear anatomy makes ear infections more prevalent than in adults. Middle ear infections and fluid buildup usually cause some temporary conductive hearing loss that will improve post-surgery.
There are few "quick fixes" for hearing loss. In most cases, hearing aids will be the recommended treatment. If you suspect you have hearing loss and need help, find a clinic in our directory and make the call. Joy Victory has extensive experience editing consumer health information. Her training in particular has focused on how to best communicate evidence-based medical guidelines and clinical trial results to the public.
She strives to make health content accurate, accessible and engaging to the public. Read more about Joy. Side Menu. Assistive listening devices Amplified phones Captioned phones Hearing aid compatible phones TV hearing aid and listening devices FM systems Alerting devices.
Recent articles Shopping for a hearing aid? Here are the four must-haves Overwhelmed at which hearing aid to buy? Did you know that human hearing is at its best between ages ? The aging process typically effects high-pitched hearing first. Digital technology enables a trained hearing professional to program specific and accurate amounts of amplification per pitch to offset the hearing loss.
So, while hearing can never be restored to the way it was, hearing loss can be treated, helped and improved with amplification — and the impact it has on your life can be greatly diminished. Want to find out for yourself? Take advantage of our special holiday offer and try hearing aids risk-free for 45 days. Want a week's worth of Starkey blogs delivered to your inbox?
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