Frequently Asked Questions about Hearing
Click on the question below to reveal the answer.
- Question: What are the different types of hearing loss?
Answer:
There are three different types of hearing loss.
Conductive hearing loss is caused by injury to, or problems with, the bones, eardrum and membranes, which carry sound from the external ear through the middle ear to the inner ear. This type of hearing loss can sometimes be medically or surgically corrected.
Examples of conditions that may cause a conductive hearing loss include:
- Conditions associated with middle ear pathology such as fluid in the middle ear from colds, allergies (serous otitis media), poor eustachian tube function, ear infection (otitis media), perforated eardrum, benign tumors
- Impacted earwax (cerumen)
- Infection in the ear canal (external otitis)
- Presence of a foreign body
- Absence or malformation of the outer ear, ear canal, or middle ear
Sensorineural hearing loss (also known as nerve deafness) occurs when the bones, eardrum and membranes are intact but the inner ear (cochlea) deteriorates as the result of causes that can include the aging process or degeneration of nerves (retrocochlear) leading from the inner ear to the brain.
Examples of conditions that may cause a sensorineural hearing loss include:
- Diseases
- Birth injury
- Drugs that are toxic to the auditory system
- Genetic syndromes
- Noise exposure
- Viruses
- Head Trauma
- Tumors
Mixed hearing loss is when there are elements from both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. This occurs when there is damage or disturbance to the outer or middle ear and damage to the inner ear.
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- Question: What are the causes of hearing loss?
Answer:
Hearing Loss - A Gradual Awareness
Millions of people of all ages suffer from hearing loss. It is a physical, not a mental health problem that can develop at any time. Most often, it is gradual and painless. People may not realize for several years that this problem is affecting them because it develops so slowly that at first it may be barely noticeable. It can inhibit people's ability to experience the sounds and voices around them, which affects their own lives and the lives of those around them.
There are many causes of hearing loss, including:
- Aging
- Long-term exposure to noise
- Heredity
- Illness
- Reactions to medications
- Injury
- Ear Wax
Ear Wax
The outer foundation of the ear canal is cartilage covered with skin that contains hair and glands that secrete cerumen or earwax (a yellow or brown substance). Together the hair and earwax help prevent "invaders" such as insects, dust and bacteria from getting into the ear. Typically, the earwax traps the dirt, dries and flakes it out of the ear. The ear canal can become blocked by attempts to clean the ear and push wax deeper into the ear. Blockage can cause temporary hearing loss. Probing to "clean" the ear canal with cotton swabs can damage the fragile structures in your ear.
Ear canals should take care of themselves. Cleaning by wiping the external portion of the ear with a soft cloth or tissue over the finger should be enough. If you experience a hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), earache or a sensation of fullness in the ear, then you may have an earwax blockage. Your physician can prescribe or recommend softeners or clean the wax out in the office.
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- Question: What are the symptoms of hearing loss?
Answer:
Because hearing loss is gradual, you may not be aware of its extent until someone else brings it to your attention. It may be difficult to accept this news, but it is important to realize that recognizing a hearing loss is the first step toward improving the quality of your life.
Often, higher pitched sounds, such as women and children's voices or birds singing are the first sounds that begin to "disappear." Then the person may notice symptoms including:
- Difficulty hearing in public gatherings such as concert halls, theaters, or houses of worship where sound sources are far away
- Difficulty hearing television and/or the telephone
- Difficulty understanding conversation in group settings
- Misinterpreting what others say
- Hearing noise ok, but not being able to understand speech; people seem to be "mumbling" when they are speaking.
Hearing difficulties can be a source of embarrassment. Adults who experience them usually develop a variety of ways of coping in difficult listening situations, such as:
- Constantly asking others to repeat themselves or speak louder
- Turning the head to one side while listening to sounds or speaker
- Turning up the TV, radio or stereo volume to a level that disturbs others
- Avoiding social gatherings such as at restaurants or parties where background noise makes it difficult to understand conversation
Need more information?
Feel free to call us with any questions at (780) 423-2116 or book a free consultation online today
- Question: How do I test for hearing loss?
Answer:
In testing for hearing loss, a Hearing Care Professional will administer a painless, quick and safe test that checks your ability to recognize tones and everyday words at different volume levels. The data produces a unique hearing pattern that is recorded on a chart called an audiogram. The Hearing Health Care Professional uses the data from your audiogram to determine whether you might benefit from hearing aids or whether medical treatment is indicated.
Hearing loss is especially prevalent in older people. If you are over age 50, consider a yearly hearing test as an important part of your physical checkup. Click here to book your free hearing test now.
The following questions will help you determine if you, or a loved one, should have a hearing test performed by a Hearing Health Care Professional. There are two questionnaires to choose from. One is for you to answer about your own hearing. The other is about the hearing of a loved one. Just answer YES or NO to each question, then review the information that follows when finished. Remember, detection of a hearing problem is the first step to improving your hearing health.
Questionnaire: Do I have a hearing loss?
- Do people always comment that the volume on your TV or radio is too loud?
- Have you missed visits and calls from people because you didn't hear the doorbell or telephone ringing?
- Do you have trouble following conversation in crowded or noisy settings?
- Do people seem to mumble and not speak clearly during conversation?
- Do people tell you that you speak too loudly in conversation?
- Do you frequently ask people to repeat themselves?
- Do your friends and family suggest that you have a hearing problem?
- Do you have a difficult time understanding the words of popular songs when listening to the radio?
Questionnaire: Does someone I know have a hearing loss?
- When you go to visit does the person you know hear your knock on the door or the doorbell?
- Does the person you know complain about having a difficult time hearing on the telephone?
- Does the person you know always ask you and others to repeat yourselves?
- In crowded settings, does the person you know complain about not understanding what people are saying?
- Does the person you know always turn the volume on the TV or radio up to an uncomfortable level just to hear a program or music?
- Does the person you know often complain of ringing in the ears?
If you answered "YES" to any of these questions, you or your loved one may want to have a hearing test to determine if there's some degree of hearing loss.
If you suspect a hearing loss, you can call us with any questions at (780) 423-2116 or book a free consultation online today.
Need more information?
Feel free to call us with any questions at (780) 423-2116 or book a free consultation online today
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