Signs of Hearing Loss
Presbycusis – age related hearing loss – is the most common type of hearing loss. As we age, the hair cells in the inner ear which are responsible for hearing begin to naturally deteriorate. This often occurs over the course of a few years. For this reason, it can be difficult to recognize a hearing problem until it’s too late.
To be proactive of your hearing health, it’s important to recognize the signs of hearing loss. Here are some common indicators you may have a hearing impairment and it’s time for a hearing test.
- It seems like those around you mumble
- You can hear but you lack clarity
- It’s difficult to hear when there is background noise
- You frequently ask people to repeat themselves
- You miss pieces of information in a conversation
- You feel tired after conversations
- You need the volume on the TV or radio louder than others like
- You hear a ringing in your ears
Hearing and Health
Our ability to hear is connected to more than you may think. We rely on our hearing for effective communication, good balance, and cognitive functioning. When left untreated, hearing loss can lead to social isolation, depression, forgetfulness, and even dementia. It’s important to manage hearing loss at the first signs to ensure your overall health is not being affected.
At Andros Audiology, we can test your hearing and identify any hearing losses present. We also offer a wide variety of hearing aids to help you manage hearing loss, so you can get back to living a healthy life.
Types of Hearing Loss
There are three main types of hearing loss: sensorineural, conductive, and mixed.
Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common and occurs due to an issue within the inner ear. Causes include age, genetics, ototoxic medications, head trauma, or underlying health conditions – such as heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure. This type of hearing loss is irreversible but can be managed with hearing aids.
Conductive hearing loss is less common and occurs when sound cannot be conducted from the outer and middle ear to the inner ear. Causes include earwax impaction, fluid in the middle ear, ruptured eardrum, or an abnormal growth in the ear. This type of hearing loss can be treated through the ENT side of our practice.
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of sensorineural and conductive losses. We can treat the sensorineural portion with hearing aids and the conductive side can be treated through our ENT clinic.
