Treating Your Hearing Loss

For many people, hearing loss is something that occurs slowly over a long period of time. So slowly, in fact, that they may not even realizehearing loss that they suffer from this frustrating and often hidden condition. However, your ear, nose, and throat doctor can help you realize that you have hearing loss and give you the resources you need to treat your hearing loss and overcome this condition for good. Find out more about treating hearing loss with South Coast Ear, Nose, and Throat with locations in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Okeechobee, FL.

How do I know I suffer from hearing loss? 
The symptoms of hearing loss may begin subtly and build in severity over a long period of time, often many years. Symptoms may also begin after a traumatic event which damages the ear. If others often sound muffled during your conversations and you find yourself asking those around you to repeat themselves often, you could suffer from hearing loss. Some other warning signs include trouble hearing consonants, asking others to speak louder frequently, having increased difficulty understanding someone on the telephone, or increased difficulty having conversations in crowded situations like a restaurant. Some common risk factors for hearing loss development include increased age, occupational noises like loud machinery, certain illnesses which cause a high fever, or heredity.

Hearing Tests in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Okeechobee
A hearing test conducted by an audiologist allows your doctor to thoroughly assess the levels and frequencies at which you hear sounds. Your doctor may also use a physical examination, tuning fork tests, or a general test like covering one ear and testing the sounds heard in the other before recommending a hearing test. During the hearing test, the patient wears a pair of headphones and listens for sounds, then indicates in which ear they heard the sound. The sounds, played at different frequencies and volumes, allow your doctor to pinpoint at which range your hearing loss occurs.

Treating Your Hearing Loss
The most common treatment for hearing loss is a hearing aid. These aids come in all shapes and sizes, making it important to work with your doctor to determine the best style hearing aid for you. For more information on hearing loss and its treatments, please contact South Coast Ear, Nose, and Throat. Call (772) 398-9911 to schedule your appointment in Port St. Lucie, (772) 464-6055 to schedule your appointment in Fort Pierce, or (863) 357-7791 to schedule your appointment in Okeechobee today!