audiological tests<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Are the\nTypes of Hearing Loss? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n Treatment will depend on your\ntype and degree of hearing loss. Conductive\nhearing loss <\/strong>occurs when there are problems in the outer ear, ear canal,\neardrum or middle ear. It can be caused by any of the following: <\/p>\n\n\n\nEar infection.<\/li> Fluid in the ears.<\/li> Malformation or abnormalities of the outer or middle ear.<\/li> Impacted earwax.<\/li> Foreign object in the ear.<\/li> Allergies.<\/li> Perforated eardrum.<\/li> Otosclerosis.<\/li> Benign tumors.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nConductive hearing loss is often\ncorrectable with surgery or medications (typically antibiotics). Alternatively,\nit may be treated with hearing aids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sensorineural hearing loss<\/strong> involves a problem with the inner ear, and is frequently\nreferred to as \u201cnerve deafness.\u201d It may be caused by any of these: <\/p>\n\n\n\nNoise exposure.<\/li> Head trauma.<\/li> Aging (presbycusis).<\/li> Viral disease.<\/li> Autoimmune ear disease.<\/li> Meniere\u2019s disease.<\/li> Malformation or abnormality of the inner ear.<\/li> Otosclerosis.<\/li> Tumors.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nSensorineural hearing loss can\nsometimes be treated with medications (corticosteroids) or surgery. More\nlikely, hearing aids will be required. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mixed hearing loss <\/strong>is a\ncombination of both types. Treatment might involve a combination of medication,\nsurgery and\/or hearing aids. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIn addition to the different types of hearing loss, it is\nimportant to consider the extent to which a patient is experiencing symptoms.\nHearing loss is further categorized as being either monaural or binaural. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unilateral\nhearing loss <\/strong>(sometimes referred to as single-sided deafness) affects one ear\nonly, while bilateral hearing loss <\/strong>affects\nboth ears. <\/p>\n\n\n\nPatients with unilateral hearing loss have normal hearing in one\near and impaired hearing in the other; they have difficulty hearing on one side\nand localizing sound. This type of hearing loss is usually associated with\nconductive causes. Individuals with bilateral hearing loss have impaired hearing\nin both ears. The condition is most often treated with hearing aids (two are\nmore effective than one) or cochlear implants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noise-Induced\nHearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common type experienced by\nyounger individuals. It can be caused by exposure to a single loud sound, such\nas a gunshot or explosion, or by continuous exposure to loud noise over a\nperiod of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When sounds exceed 85 decibels (dB) they are considered hazardous\nto your hearing health. Continuous exposure to volume levels that high causes\npermanent damage to the hair cells in your ears. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activities that put people at risk for noise-induced hearing loss\ninclude hunting, riding a motorcycle, listening to music at high volumes,\nplaying in a band and attending rock concerts. An estimated 15 percent of\nAmericans aged 20 to 69 have hearing loss that may have been caused by noise\nexposure. This type of hearing loss can be prevented by wearing earplugs and\nprotective devices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHearing Loss\nPrevention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Protecting your ears is the key to hearing loss prevention. If\nyour job exposes you to hazardous noises, make sure proper safety equipment is\nprovided, and that it meets state and federal regulations. Hearing protection \u2013\nearplugs and earmuffs \u2013 is essential when working around loud equipment. It\u2019s\nalways a good idea to bring along earplugs if you\u2019re participating in a noisy\nrecreational activity (e.g., a football game or rock concert), as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At home, limit your exposure to noisy activities, and keep the\nvolume down \u2013 on the television, stereo and especially when it comes to\npersonal listening devices like MP3 players. Prevent other types of hearing\nloss by refraining from inserting cotton swabs or other objects into your ears,\nblowing your nose gently through both nostrils and quitting smoking. Studies\nshow those who use tobacco are more likely to suffer from hearing loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regardless of your age, have your hearing tested regularly. Early\ndetection is key. While noise-related hearing loss can\u2019t be reversed, you can\nstill take steps to avoid further damage to your hearing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contact<\/a> ENT of Georgia North for more information or to schedule an appointment<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hearing loss is one of the biggest health concerns in the U.S. It is the third most commonly reported physical condition, following arthritis and heart disease. It affects roughly 20 percent of the American population and can strike people of all ages. The most common causes of hearing loss are noise exposure and aging. What…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":155,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"ENT of Georgia North | Learn about hearing loss types, symptoms, and treatment options available to you. If you have trouble hearing, call for treatment.","_seopress_robots_index":"","schema":"