Hearing Loss

Ear, Nose & Throat Doctors located in Thibodaux, Houma, Raceland, Morgan City, New Iberia, Youngsville, and Opelousas, LA

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Expert Hearing Loss Evaluation and Treatment

If you’re finding it harder to hear speech and other sounds, you may be suffering from hearing loss due to aging, injury, or an illness. At Southern ENT Associates, the experienced team of otolaryngologists can help pinpoint the reason for your hearing loss and help you manage it to improve your quality of life and relationships. If you live in South Louisiana, call one of the six practice locations or book an appointment online to have your hearing evaluated and treated today.

What Causes Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss usually develops over several years, and since it’s painless and gradual, you might not even notice it. Sometimes, you might experience a ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus, as your hearing declines. Many issues can cause hearing loss, including the following:

Aging
Earwax buildup
Ear infection
Exposure to loud noise

What are the Types of Hearing Loss?

There are two types of hearing loss:

Conductive Hearing Loss

This describes a problem with the ear canal or eardrum. Excess wax plugging the ear or fluid behind the eardrum may be the reason you have hearing loss. It can often receive treatment through medical or surgical approaches.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

This hearing loss results from damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve. It happens with age or excessive noise exposure. A hearing aid is the best way to treat this type of loss.

You can experience a combination of these two hearing loss types, too. Hearing loss may affect one or both ears.

What Kind of Noise Can Damage My Hearing?

Exposure to loud noise can damage your hearing. Sometimes an extremely loud event, such as an explosion, can cause a one-time exposure that damages your eardrums.

However, exposure to loud noises over time can also be damaging. These constant environmental conditions include exposure to the sounds of the following:

Firearms
Earbuds
Loudspeakers
Heavy machinery

The longer you’re exposed to a loud noise, the more damaging it can be. Also, the closer you are to the noise, the more impactful it may be on your hearing.

What if I Need a Hearing Aid?

The doctors at Southern ENT Associates can help you determine if you need a hearing aid to correct your hearing loss. They offer several different types, including the following:

Behind-the-ear hearing aids that are placed over the ear and connected to custom-fitted earpieces
In-the-ear hearing aids that fill the ear and ear canal
Half-shell or in-the-canal, which are smaller versions of in-the-ear hearing aids
Completely-in-the-canal hearing aids, which are the smallest, least-noticeable kind

Which type of hearing aid suits you depends on your degree of hearing loss, the size and shape of your ear canal, and your ability to insert it with your hands. To learn more about hearing loss and treatment, call one of the six offices of Southern ENT Associates or book an appointment online.