Hearing Loss

Did you know that over 28 million Americans – men, women, and children – currently suffer from hearing impairment? For most of the hearing impaired, the use of hearing instruments could translate into improved communication with loved ones and renewed enjoyment of life.

There are many reasons for hearing loss that can rob us of our ability to hear and understand the way we used to, such as:

Natural effects of aging
While aging does not always result in significant hearing loss, it is among the most common reasons. Hearing loss due to aging produces a permanent sensory loss.

Noise exposure
Exposure to loud sounds for prolonged periods of time can result in hair cell damage and permanent sensory hearing loss. Short extreme noise exposures can also produce permanent hearing loss known as acoustic trauma. Signs that damage has occurred to the hair cells following noise exposure is often evidenced by ringing in the ears called tinnitus. The tinnitus may subside after a short period of time but the effect of the noise exposure on the hair cells remains.

Illness
Some illnesses can result in damage to the hair cells. This is sometimes true of illnesses that produce high prolonged fever or those that require treatment with “ototoxic” medications. Ototoxic refers to medications that have the potential for damaging inner ear hair cells.

Birth defects
This results from events that occur that interfere with the normal development or functioning of the organs of hearing. Hearing loss of this type can be either sensory (hair cell or cochlea damage) or conductive, related to structures of the outer or middle ear.

Middle ear disorders
This refers to hearing loss that results from a medically related condition of the outer or middle ear. These can include infections, middle ear fluid, damage to the middle ear ossicles or an excessive wax formation that blocks the complete ear canal. This type of hearing loss is called conductive because it diminishes sound as it is conducted along the outer and middle ear on its way to the cochlea.

When hearing loss is suspected, an appointment with a hearing healthcare professional is recommended for the purpose of testing and evaluation. The majority of people who receive proper and regular professional care are successful hearing instrument users.