Hearing Loss in Fairhope, AL
What Causes Hearing Loss?
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, hearing loss affects over 30% of adults over age 65. It can happen suddenly or develop gradually over time. Hearing loss can be temporary, often caused by exposure to loud noises, a buildup of earwax, or an ear infection. It can also be permanent and is often caused by aging, ruptured eardrums, or trauma to the ears.
Signs and Symptoms of Hearing Loss
You may be experiencing hearing loss if you are:
- Hearing only muffled speech and sounds
- Having difficulty picking out individual words from background sounds
- Needing people around you to speak more slowly, loudly, or clearly
- Wanting to avoid conversations or social events because due to hearing loss
Treatment for Hearing Loss
Treatment for hearing loss begins with hearing testing. Testing determines if you are experiencing hearing loss and to what degree. To treat hearing loss, your ENT specialist may recommend:
- Hearing aids come in several types, including CIC hearing aids, which fit completely in the ear canal, ITE hearing aids, which loop over the outer ear, or BTE hearing aids, which loop over the top and behind your ear
- Cochlear implants to treat severe hearing loss by compensating for areas of the ear that aren’t functioning well
- Laser microsurgery to treat otosclerosis, a condition caused by sclerosis of the bones associated with hearing
How Often You Should Visit an ENT Specialist for Hearing Testing
To protect your hearing, it’s important to have it tested at least once every ten years through age 50 and every three years after age 50.
