About Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is one of the most common health conditions, affecting approximately 48 million people in the U.S. Hearing loss affects individuals of all ages, from children to older adults. Although common, many people wait an average of seven years before seeking treatment for their hearing loss.
At Altamonte Family Hearing, our goal is to provide affordable, accessible hearing healthcare to adults of all ages in Altamonte Springs. We want to help you regain your confidence and be able to effectively communicate with your loved ones again. That’s why we provide a number of services to help you with your hearing.
Causes of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be a natural part of aging or it can be caused earlier in life due to outside factors. Some of the most common causes of hearing loss are:
- Age
- Genetics
- Prolonged noise exposure
- Earwax impaction
- Ototoxic medications
- Ear infections
- Tumors
- Head or ear injury
Hearing is connected to overall health and can be impacted by conditions that affect blood flow or the heart. Individuals with heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure are at an increased risk of developing hearing loss. If you have one of these health conditions, you should have your hearing checked on an annual basis.
Symptoms
It’s important to recognize the signs of hearing loss early, so you can be proactive and preserve your hearing ability. Some common signs of hearing loss include:
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- Mishearing information
- Difficulty hearing when there is background noise
- Turning the volume up on the TV or radio
- Hearing a ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Types of Hearing Loss
There are three different types of hearing loss: sensorineural, conductive, and mixed.
- Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss, affecting the most people. This occurs due to damage to the hair cells in the inner ear which are responsible for hearing or from a problem with the hearing nerve. Common causes include age, genetics, medications, loud noise exposure, or underlying health conditions.
- Conductive hearing loss is less common and is usually temporary. This type of loss occurs when sound cannot be transmitted from the outer and middle ear to the inner ear, usually as a result of some kind of blockage. Common causes include clogged ears due to earwax impaction, fluid in the middle, ruptured eardrum, or ear infection.
- Mixed hearing loss is a combination of sensorineural and conductive. This occurs when there is a blockage in the ear as well as damage to the hearing nerve.
How to Manage Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss, which is permanent, can be successfully managed with prescription hearing aids. While hearing aids won’t restore your hearing, they will help you hear soft sounds and distinguish between conversation and background noise. Hearing aids are a great management tool as they will provide your brain with the necessary sounds it needs to stay healthy.
When left untreated, hearing loss can have a negative effect on mental health, communication, energy, and cognitive abilities. Treating hearing loss with hearing aids will ensure your hearing ability doesn’t worsen, and your speech comprehension doesn’t decline.
Don’t let hearing loss affect your quality of life, contact us for an appointment and see how our hearing specialist can help you.