Hearing Loss: Can it be affecting you?
Find out about hearing loss diagnosis and effective treatments
Is hearing loss affecting you? In some cases, it can be difficult to tell. Hearing loss may be very gradual in
adults or it can be very sudden. It depends on your specific problem. If you are suffering from age-related hearing
loss, for example, you might not notice as much because the loss occurs so gradually. A viral infection in your
inner ear, on the other hand, can leave you with drastic hearing loss in a short amount of time. Go to a medical
professional if you or your family thinks your hearing is deteriorating.
There are many tests available for hearing problems. Many professionals are involved in treating and testing
hearing loss. The doctor will probably ask questions about your hearing loss—what problems it has caused, and how
the loss developed. The doctor will also perform a a physical examination. A special electronic device with
headphones (an audiometer) and other equipment is used to test the degree of hearing loss
How can I treat hearing loss?
Hearing loss treatment differs according to the original cause. For example, if your hearing loss is due to a
bacterial infection of your middle ear, you can treat your hearing loss with antibiotics and other treatments.
Punctured or damaged eardrums, on the other hand, can be repaired surgically. Blockages in the middle or outer ear
can be flushed out. Ossicles affected by otosclerosis can be replaced effectively with artificial bones.
However, if there is no cure for your type of hearing loss, you can still improve your hearing with a hearing aid
for one or both of your ears. Many different types of hearing aids are available for purchase; consult your
audiologist for more information about which type might best suit your needs.
If a hearing aid does not give enough amplification for you to hear well, you might need a cochlear implant—a
bionic ear—to aid your hearing. The implants are a popular choice for people with profound deafness. The implant
works by transmitting sound directly the auditory nerve via electrodes which are surgically implanted into the
cochlea. Keep in mind that the results of a cochlear implant vary between people. It is difficult to tell how
effective it will be before it is implanted.
Cochlea implants give limited hearing and the sounds you hear might be confined to those of a buzzing or electronic
nature. On the whole, these can be very helpful when used in combination with lip reading. It may also let you hear
the volume of your own speech and so makes conversation easier.
Cochlear implants can be particularly valuable for deaf children if they are implanted before the age of two.
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