Signs and Symptoms of Hearing Loss

The Causes of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is a common problem. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, hearing loss affects over 30% of adults over age 65. Hearing loss can happen quickly due to an accident or injury to your ears or head, or it can develop gradually over time due to aging or chronic exposure to loud sounds. Other causes of hearing loss include earwax buildup, an ear infection, or ruptured eardrums.

Signs and Symptoms of Hearing Loss

The signs and symptoms of hearing loss can happen gradually. You may be experiencing hearing loss if you:

• Hear only muffled speech and sounds
• Experience difficulty picking out individual words from background sounds
• Need people around you to speak more slowly, loudly, or clearly
• Want to avoid conversations or social events because you can’t hear

Treatment for Hearing Loss

If you notice any signs or symptoms listed above, you should schedule a hearing test with your ENT specialist. A hearing test can determine your 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 restoring function to 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

Regular visits to an ENT specialist can help protect your hearing and prevent hearing loss. You should have your hearing tested at least once every ten years through age 50 and every three years after age 50.

Want to Know More About Hearing Loss?

To learn more about the causes, signs, symptoms, and treatment of hearing loss, call Dr. Leslie Berghash or Dr. John Lanza at South Coast Ear, Nose & Throat. You can reach us at our Port St. Lucie office at (772) 398-9911, Fort Pierce at (772) 464-6055, or Okeechobee at (863) 357-7791, so call today.