Don't suffer in silence: What you need to know about hearing loss
Posted May 02, 2022 by Deanna Nickerson, Au.D. & Amy Welman, Au.D.
Do you often find yourself replying, “Say that again,” during a conversation? Do you have difficulty understanding words while in a crowded place? Does it seem as if your loved one is mumbling or talking quieter than usual? These could be signs of hearing loss.
As we age, hearing loss is a common problem. In fact, nearly 25 percent of people ages 65 to 74 and half of those who are 75 and older have disabling hearing loss, according to the National Institutes of Health.
You can have hearing loss in one or both ears, and some types are temporary, while others are permanent. There are three types of hearing loss:
- Conductive: Conductive hearing loss is caused by something that blocks sound from passing through the outer or middle ear, such as earwax, fluid, unusual growths or tumors, or an infection.
- Sensorineural: Sensorineural hearing loss is due to damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve, and it is often permanent. Aging, chronic noise exposure, inherited abnormalities, injury or an infection could cause the condition.
- Mixed: Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
Aging and chronic exposure to loud noises, such as from your occupation, are main contributors to hearing loss. However, inherited abnormalities and conditions, ruptured eardrums caused by unexpected, loud blasts or sudden changes in pressure, gradual buildup of earwax, some medications and infections are all risk factors for hearing loss.
If you’re suffering from a hearing problem, you may feel disconnected to the world around you. The good news is you don’t have to suffer in silence. While the damage may be permanent, there are numerous treatments available to improve your hearing — and quality of life.
Signs of hearing loss
Hearing problems typically develop slowly over time and changes may not be immediately noticeable. If you find your hearing loss is interfering with your daily life and social activities, it’s time to talk to your doctor.
Common signs of hearing loss include:
- Muffling of speech and other sounds
- Difficulty understanding conversations, especially in loud, crowded spaces
- Trouble hearing consonants, such as the difference between “f” and “s”
- Trouble hearing high-pitched sounds, such as birds chirping
- Frequently asking others to speak up or repeat themselves
- Turning up the volume on the TV or radio
- Ringing in the ears
- Avoidance of some social settings or withdrawing from conversations
Seek medical attention right away if you’re experiencing balance problems, a severe earache or sudden hearing loss. It could be a sign of a serious underlying condition.
Diagnosis and treatment for hearing loss
While hearing loss is typically not curable, it is almost always treatable.
To diagnose hearing loss, an audiologist will ask about your symptoms and perform a physical exam to look inside your ear for possible causes, such as earwax or infection. In addition, your provider will perform hearing assessments, such as an audiogram, to test for which types of sounds and the softest sounds you can hear.
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of your hearing loss and could include:
Earwax removal
Earwax blockage can be removed to restore your hearing. Your doctor can remove earwax either through suction or by using a special tool.
Surgery
Surgeons can repair ear abnormalities to the eardrum or bone structure inside your middle ear or remove tumors or unusual growths blocking your ear canal. In addition, ear tubes can be surgically implanted to help drain fluid from your ear if you’re experiencing chronic infections.
Hearing aids
For permanent hearing loss, hearing aids are often the first step in improving hearing. A hearing aid is an electrical device that is worn on or inside the ear to amplify sound and direct it into your ear canal. Hearing aids come in a range of styles, sizes and technology levels, and they can be matched to your specific hearing problem.
Bone-anchored hearing implants
Bone-anchored hearing systems, such as the Baha® implant, is a surgical option which can provide a better outcome for single-sided or middle ear hearing loss. Different from hearing aids, these specialty devices treat hearing loss through sound vibrations transmitted by bone conduction to the inner ear.
With treatment, patients are able to experience an improvement in their quality of life by having better access to speech and sound in their environment. Talk to your doctor about which treatment options are right for you so you can get back to enjoying life and be in tune with the world — and loves ones — around you.
Learn more about our ENT services
About the Author
Vitality eNews Sign Up
Receive the Summa Health eNewsletter for the latest health tips, advice and updates.
Related Blogs
With summer in full swing, you may be looking for any reason to be outside enjoying the beautiful weather. Which includes exercising outside.
However, for older adults this comes with an added risk for heat related-illnesses. Individuals over the age of 60 have a decreased ability to regulate their body temperature thus leading to an increased risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration, and even heat stroke. To limit your risk, keep your structured exercise inside during the summer…
Statistically speaking, the truth is men don’t live as long as women.
That’s why it’s critical that men of all ages recognize potential health risks and start taking precautions early on. While they can’t change their genes, they can change some of their risk factors by taking steps to live a healthier lifestyle.
Some of the biggest health concerns facing men today include heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),…
For people with ovaries, having a period is a fact of life, but so too is losing it. Menopause is a normal part of aging and natural transition all females experience. It occurs when the ovaries stop producing eggs and the reproductive hormones decline — marking the end of menstruation and fertility.
For most females, menopause begins between the ages of 40 and 55. However, it can start earlier for individuals who experience premature ovarian failure or have surgical…
Testosterone is what makes a man look and feel like a man. It’s the male sex hormone responsible for a man’s puberty, fertility and his sexual desire.
Produced in the testicles, testosterone works to help boys develop male characteristics, such as body and facial hair, a deeper voice and muscle strength during puberty. Men also need the hormone to produce sperm. In addition, testosterone ensures adequate levels of red blood cells and bone density, boosts mood and…
It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: you’re pregnant! With so much to do to get ready for baby — purchase a crib, choose a name, install the car seat — where should you begin?
First things first: Choosing the right provider to partner with you on this magical 40-week journey should be a top priority on your to-do list. Having a strong relationship with your obstetrician (OB) or certified nurse midwife(CNM) is important in promoting a healthy…
Falls are an unfortunate, yet frequent complication for people with neurological disorders. From Parkinson’s disease and Diabetes Mellitus to neuromuscular disorders, and from brain tumors to multiple sclerosis, neurological disorders affect the brain and central nervous system. This can cause paralysis, muscle weakness, poor coordination, loss of sensation, pain and much more.
Because of the mobility challenges, instability and other symptoms, people with…
Dr. Dankoff provides an overview of testicular cancer. Learn about symptoms, prevention, and treatment options.
Are you feeling the pressure to live a heart-healthy lifestyle? You’re not alone.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). What’s more, nearly half of all adults in this country are living with some type of cardiovascular disease.
The good news is you don’t have to be a statistic. While genetics do play a role in heart disease, there are several risk factors that can…
Are you feeling the pressure to live a heart-healthy lifestyle? You’re not alone.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). What’s more, nearly half of all adults in this country are living with some type of cardiovascular disease.
The good news is you don’t have to be a statistic. While genetics do play a role in heart disease, there are several risk factors that can…
Are you feeling the pressure to live a heart-healthy lifestyle? You’re not alone.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). What’s more, nearly half of all adults in this country are living with some type of cardiovascular disease.
The good news is you don’t have to be a statistic. While genetics do play a role in heart disease, there are several risk factors that can…
You may have heard heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 killers in women. But did you know that heart disease and stroke disproportionately affect African American women?
It’s true. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 49 percent of African American women aged 20 and older have heart disease and they have almost two times the risk of stroke than Caucasians. Sadly, African American women are more likely to die at an earlier age when compared to other…
High blood sugar can cause gradual, unassuming symptoms that can sneak up on you. Frequent urination and excessive thirst — the telltale signs of type 2 diabetes — are often mild and can easily be attributed to other factors.
In fact, most people don’t even know they have high blood sugar until they’re diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetesis a chronic condition that causes glucose (or sugar) levels in the body to rise. The problem is ignoring or…
High blood sugar can cause gradual, unassuming symptoms that can sneak up on you. Frequent urination and excessive thirst — the telltale signs of type 2 diabetes — are often mild and can easily be attributed to other factors.
In fact, most people don’t even know they have high blood sugar until they’re diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetesis a chronic condition that causes glucose (or sugar) levels in the body to rise. The problem is ignoring or…
High blood sugar can cause gradual, unassuming symptoms that can sneak up on you. Frequent urination and excessive thirst — the telltale signs of type 2 diabetes — are often mild and can easily be attributed to other factors.
In fact, most people don’t even know they have high blood sugar until they’re diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetesis a chronic condition that causes glucose (or sugar) levels in the body to rise. The problem is ignoring or…
Dr. Jospeh Dankoff and Dr. Kevin Spear lead a discussion on prostate health.
Last winter, the community took several precautions to help stop the spread of COVID-19. From masks and social distancing to virtual work and school to cancelled events, an unforeseen positive side effect was a less intense flu season.
Flu cases documented during last year’s flu season were historically low by a wide margin. Medical professionals haven’t seen anything like it.
So with many precautions still in place amidst an ongoing pandemic, you may be…
Last winter, the community took several precautions to help stop the spread of COVID-19. From masks and social distancing to virtual work and school to cancelled events, an unforeseen positive side effect was a less intense flu season.
Flu cases documented during last year’s flu season were historically low by a wide margin. Medical professionals haven’t seen anything like it.
So with many precautions still in place amidst an ongoing pandemic, you may be…
Last winter, the community took several precautions to help stop the spread of COVID-19. From masks and social distancing to virtual work and school to cancelled events, an unforeseen positive side effect was a less intense flu season.
Flu cases documented during last year’s flu season were historically low by a wide margin. Medical professionals haven’t seen anything like it.
So with many precautions still in place amidst an ongoing pandemic, you may be…
Endometriosis is not PMS, or premenstrual syndrome. It is not pain from your period because endometriosis overlaps with a woman’s cycle, many chalk up the symptoms to just a “bad period.” Severe endometriosis may even lead to pain outside of your period.
Endometriosis is caused by endometrial (uterine) cells located elsewhere in the pelvis, outside the uterus. If you’re suffering from endometriosis, tissue that is similar to the uterine lining —…
February is Black History Month, when we recognize African-Americans and those of color who have played major roles in shaping our present culture. February is also American Heart Health month – a time to raise awareness of heart disease. While these two events are different, they are linked in healthcare. Heart disease remains the number one killer of Americans, and African-Americans are 20 percent more likely to die from heart disease than non-Hispanic whites.
We do not…
February is Black History Month, when we recognize African-Americans and those of color who have played major roles in shaping our present culture. February is also American Heart Health month – a time to raise awareness of heart disease. While these two events are different, they are linked in healthcare. Heart disease remains the number one killer of Americans, and African-Americans are 20 percent more likely to die from heart disease than non-Hispanic whites.
We do not…
February is Black History Month, when we recognize African-Americans and those of color who have played major roles in shaping our present culture. February is also American Heart Health month – a time to raise awareness of heart disease. While these two events are different, they are linked in healthcare. Heart disease remains the number one killer of Americans, and African-Americans are 20 percent more likely to die from heart disease than non-Hispanic whites.
We do not…
Bladder cancer is the most common urologic cancer in both men and women. Each year, about 57,000 men and 18,000 women are diagnosed with the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
But, urologic cancers don’t only affect the bladder. They also can affect the kidneys, ureter (tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder), urethra, and specifically in men, the penis, prostate and testicles.
In fact, the CDC states prostate…
Bladder cancer is the most common urologic cancer in both men and women. Each year, about 57,000 men and 18,000 women are diagnosed with the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
But, urologic cancers don’t only affect the bladder. They also can affect the kidneys, ureter (tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder), urethra, and specifically in men, the penis, prostate and testicles.
In fact, the CDC states prostate…
You’ve seen it on the soccer field or basketball court: a player plants a foot, twists and goes down grabbing a knee. The problem is most likely tearing of the meniscus (cartilage) or ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). Both can be extremely painful and sideline an athlete for months of recovery.
A tear usually requires more intervention than a strain or sprain.
A knee strain is a stretch or partial tear of a tendon or muscle, while a sprain is a stretch or tear of a…
You’ve seen it on the soccer field or basketball court: a player plants a foot, twists and goes down grabbing a knee. The problem is most likely tearing of the meniscus (cartilage) or ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). Both can be extremely painful and sideline an athlete for months of recovery.
A tear usually requires more intervention than a strain or sprain.
A knee strain is a stretch or partial tear of a tendon or muscle, while a sprain is a stretch or tear of a…
You’ve seen it on the soccer field or basketball court: a player plants a foot, twists and goes down grabbing a knee. The problem is most likely tearing of the meniscus (cartilage) or ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). Both can be extremely painful and sideline an athlete for months of recovery.
A tear usually requires more intervention than a strain or sprain.
A knee strain is a stretch or partial tear of a tendon or muscle, while a sprain is a stretch or tear of a…
These are critical heart health numbers that should not be ignored and include blood pressure, resting heart rate, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for…
These are critical heart health numbers that should not be ignored and include blood pressure, resting heart rate, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for…
These are critical heart health numbers that should not be ignored and include blood pressure, resting heart rate, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for…
From mother to wife, and from businesswoman to caretaker, women wear many hats on a daily basis. So, it’s understandable why many of us put off our own needs; there’s just not enough time in the day. However, when it comes to your health, it should always come first.
Maybe you’re too busy to stop and see a doctor, or you’re hoping a symptom will just go away on its own. But, if you’re not feeling your best, you can’t possibly perform at your…
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), otherwise known as prostate gland enlargement, is a common condition as men get older. An enlarged prostate can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms as well as bladder, urinary tract or kidney problems.
In many men, the prostate continues to grow throughout life. This continued growth enlarges the prostate enough to cause BPH, which means they have urinary issues or their urine flow is significantly blocked.
The symptoms of BPH often vary,…
As our loved ones get older, it’s normal for them to lose a little bit of their mental sharpness, and it’s easy to rationalize and gloss over strange behavior. After all – we all forget things once in a while. When memory and mental issues start affecting daily life, it could be a sign of something more serious. While a qualified physician is needed to diagnose someone with Alzheimer’s disease, there are some signs and symptoms that can suggest a…
Billions of dollars have been spent on researching Alzheimer’s, but it stubbornly continues to affect 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 65. While we are still waiting for a cure, there have been significant advances that have made an impact on the treatment of Alzheimer's and related diseases:
New treatments and positive trials on the horizon
Currently, the medications on the market for Alzheimer’s only relieve symptoms of the disease. None stop the progression.…
Billions of dollars have been spent on researching Alzheimer’s, but it stubbornly continues to affect 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 65. While we are still waiting for a cure, there have been significant advances that have made an impact on the treatment of Alzheimer's and related diseases:
New treatments and positive trials on the horizon
Currently, the medications on the market for Alzheimer’s only relieve symptoms of the disease. None stop the progression.…
Billions of dollars have been spent on researching Alzheimer’s, but it stubbornly continues to affect 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 65. While we are still waiting for a cure, there have been significant advances that have made an impact on the treatment of Alzheimer's and related diseases:
New treatments and positive trials on the horizon
Currently, the medications on the market for Alzheimer’s only relieve symptoms of the disease. None stop the progression.…
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common health problem that affects women of childbearing age and is caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones. Women with PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods or excess male hormone (androgen) levels. Because of this imbalance, the ovaries sometimes develop numerous small collections of fluid and can fail to regularly release eggs.
Who is at Risk for PCOS?
It is estimated that between 5% and 10% of women between 15 and 44…
Deep, consistent, quality sleep can not only make you feel great during the day; it can also improve your health. Sleep can boost your mood, help you maintain a healthy body weight and help your heart and mind function at tip-top levels.
But, for some of us, a solid night's sleep may seem like a dream. Lack of sleep can affect our brain's ability to react properly; so much so, that our body’s overall health can be at risk.
Deep, consistent, quality sleep can not only make you feel great during the day; it can also improve your health. Sleep can boost your mood, help you maintain a healthy body weight and help your heart and mind function at tip-top levels.
But, for some of us, a solid night's sleep may seem like a dream. Lack of sleep can affect our brain's ability to react properly; so much so, that our body’s overall health can be at risk.
Deep, consistent, quality sleep can not only make you feel great during the day; it can also improve your health. Sleep can boost your mood, help you maintain a healthy body weight and help your heart and mind function at tip-top levels.
But, for some of us, a solid night's sleep may seem like a dream. Lack of sleep can affect our brain's ability to react properly; so much so, that our body’s overall health can be at risk.
Perhaps you and your partner are thinking of a more permanent solution to birth control. If you’ve had the conversation of vasectomy versus tubal ligation - “getting your tubes tied” - you might be interested to learn that a vasectomy is a much easier procedure, is more effective at preventing pregnancy and has a much lower risk of side effects or complications. It’s also much cheaper; tubal ligation requires general anesthesia and surgery; a vasectomy only requires local anesthesia and an oral sedative.
It is never too late to adjust your skincare routine. Think of it like a new exercise routine: with a little dedication, determination and education you can undo or halt bad habits.
Around the age of 30, the body’s collagen production slows down. Collagen plays a big part in the elasticity our skin has. When that production slows down, we tend to see our skin change with the addition of dark spots, larger pores, fine lines and wrinkles.
When you think of February, you may think of Valentine's Day, chocolate and flowers. February also marks American Heart Month, a great time to commit to a healthy lifestyle and make small changes that can lead to a lifetime of heart health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. But the good news is it's also one of the most preventable.
Making heart-healthy choices, knowing your family health history and the risk factors for heart…
When you think of February, you may think of Valentine's Day, chocolate and flowers. February also marks American Heart Month, a great time to commit to a healthy lifestyle and make small changes that can lead to a lifetime of heart health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. But the good news is it's also one of the most preventable.
Making heart-healthy choices, knowing your family health history and the risk factors for heart…