Understanding Hearing Loss for Patients in FL & Beyond
Hearing loss is a common condition, affecting an average of one in three adults in the United States over 65. Once adults are over the age of 75, the figure continues to increase. Age-related hearing loss is the most common type, but different forms of hearing loss can affect people of all ages. The three most common types include conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss. Hearing loss can be caused by several things, from sudden loud sounds to earwax buildup. When you better understand the type of hearing loss you’re dealing with, you can make informed decisions about your treatment options.
Below, the experts at Tri-County Hearing discuss the different types of hearing loss and how hearing care providers address them. With years of experience providing comprehensive hearing care services throughout Florida and the surrounding areas, we offer leading expertise in hearing healthcare. Contact the clinical team at Tri-County Hearing today to learn more about the different hearing loss types and how to address your symptoms properly.
What Is Sensorineural Hearing Loss?
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common form and results from damage to your inner ear or auditory nerve. SNHL is a permanent condition and, in most cases, can’t be reversed with medicine or surgery. Fortunately, hearing can be drastically improved with hearing aids or, in more severe hearing loss cases, a cochlear device. The most common causes of sensorineural hearing loss include the natural aging process (presbycusis) and exposure to loud sounds (noise-induced hearing loss). Some of the less common causes of SNHL include:
- Genetics
- Injury
- Viral infections
- Ototoxic medications and substances
Symptoms of Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Knowing which symptoms to watch for helps patients address their hearing loss early. Some of the common symptoms of SNHL can include:
- Some sounds seem overly loud in one ear.
- You need help following conversations in social gatherings.
- You can’t hear clearly in noisy areas.
- Men’s voices are easier to understand than women’s voices.
- Other voices sound mumbled or slurred.
- You have problems hearing when background noise is present.
What Is Conductive Hearing Loss?
Conductive hearing loss is often treatable and caused by a blockage or obstruction in your ear canal. A problem with the middle ear’s eardrum, muscles, or ligaments can prevent sounds from traveling through your ear canal, resulting in hearing loss. Several things can cause conductive hearing loss, but some of the most common include the following:
- Colds
- Allergies
- Ear infections
- Earwax buildup
- Physical obstruction in the ear
Symptoms of Conductive Hearing Loss
The symptoms a patient experiences with conductive hearing loss can vary widely depending on the condition’s cause and severity. The condition can sometimes be painful or coincide with other conditions affecting your ears, such as an inner ear infection. In addition to the inability to hear clearly, some of the common symptoms of conductive hearing loss include:
- Feeling dizzy or having trouble balancing
- Tinnitus (hearing ringing, buzzing, or humming in your ears)
- Ears feeling clogged
- Sudden onset hearing loss
- Pain in one or both ears
- Difficulty hearing others when they’re speaking
- Your voice sounds different
- Feeling pressure in your ears
Degrees of Hearing Loss
Degrees of hearing loss refer to the severity of the patient’s loss. There are four clinically labeled degrees of hearing loss, including:
- Mild
- Moderate
- Severe
- Profound
Preventing Noise-Induced (Sensorineural) Hearing Loss
Tinnitus Preventative care and regular hearing tests are the best way to avoid sensorineural hearing loss. A hearing care provider will conduct a series of tests during an exam to determine the type and severity of the hearing loss you’re experiencing. Even if you’re not currently experiencing hearing problems, comprehensive hearing evaluations allow your hearing care provider to track any changes to your hearing, recommend preventative measures, and formulate an individualized treatment plan as needed. Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, so adequately protecting your hearing from loud sounds at all costs is essential. Any sound above 85 dB (decibels) can damage your auditory nerve system. Some of the most effective ways to prevent noise-induced hearing loss include:
- Reducing your exposure to loud noises with distance and breaks
- Wearing custom hearing protection around loud sounds
- Keeping all audio entertainment at safe listening levels
- Keeping your vehicle windows closed in noisy traffic
- Wearing hearing protection that’s designed for your specific needs, lifestyle, and environment
Preventing Trauma-Induced Hearing Loss
Preventing trauma-induced hearing loss can look like:
- Wearing custom hearing protection in loud environments
- Wearing a protective helmet or headgear when necessary
- Refraining from inserting anything into your ear canal
- Equalizing your ear pressure on a plane by chewing gum, using special earplugs, or yawning
Preventing Ototoxicity
Various medications and substances can cause hearing loss. Some ways to prevent hearing loss caused by ototoxicity include:
- Closely monitor any symptoms of ototoxicity when taking medication
- Report any changes in hearing or tinnitus to your hearing care provider immediately
- Discuss the risks of ototoxicity with your primary healthcare provider when prescribed medication
Address Your Hearing Loss Symptoms With Tri-County Hearing
While the symptoms and causes of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss differ, the need for early intervention and diagnosis is the same. The sooner you receive an accurate diagnosis from a trained hearing care provider, the sooner you can get the treatment you need for improved hearing and excellent ear health. The highly skilled professionals at Tri-County Hearing want to help you regain your ability to hear throughout Florida and beyond. Contact us today to learn more about our hearing care services, or schedule an appointmentonline for acomprehensive hearing evaluation.
