Are you among the many Americans who have a hearing loss? At South Coast Ear, Nose & Throat in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Okeechobee, our ENT physicians, Drs. Berghash, Lanza, and Wright, sort through symptoms and examine the cause and kind of your hearing loss. With their help, you can function well again.

Reasons for hearing loss

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that one out of every two individuals ages 65 and older have some degree of hearing loss. In other words, many hearing problems are age-related. Called presbycusis, age-related hearing loss may be conductive (related to the eardrum or ossicles of the middle ear) or sensorineural (due to deterioration of the auditory nerve).

Other individuals, whatever their age, suffer hearing loss from consistent exposure to very loud noise from music, power tools, and traffic. Some prescription medications and health conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, lead to hearing loss. Autoimmune problems, such as Meniere's Disease, impact both hearing and balance.

Symptoms of hearing loss

There are many signs which tell you, your family, and your Port St. Lucie otolaryngologist that you have a hearing loss and could benefit from hearing aids. Signs include:

• Asking people to repeat themselves
• Having the TV at an extra-loud volume
• Being unable to filter conversation from surrounding room noise (such as at a party)
• Having trouble hearing soft, high-pitched voices, such as those of children and young women
• Ringing, buzzing or roaring sounds in one or both ears (tinnitus)

Additionally, people with hearing loss often experience hypersensitivity to certain sounds, explains the CDC.

Getting help

If you have a hearing loss, the professional team at South Coast Ear, Nose & Throat in Port St. Lucie is here to help. Dr. Berghash, Lanza, or Wright will perform an ENT exam to evaluate any symptoms that you perceive.

Our on-staff audiologist, Dr. Phillips, will perform a thorough hearing test. Depending on the results, she may recommend one of our may custom-fit hearing aids. You'll be amazing at how your hearing and confidence improve with one of our state-of-the-art devices.

Additionally, if you have hearing deficits related to a medical issue, we can address those, too.

We're here for you

Don't wait—your hearing is too important. Call one of the three locations of South Coast Ear, Nose & Throat for a hearing consultation and information on hearing aids. In Port St. Lucie, phone us at (772) 398-9911, and in Fort Pierce, call (772) 464-6055. Reach the Okeechobee office at (863) 357-7791.