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:
- 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 firearms, portable MP3 players, loudspeakers at nightclubs or rock concerts, and 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:
- 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.
