Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss Treatment
Hearing loss affects more than 48 million adults of all ages in the United States. Nearly one-fifth of the American population, 12 years and older, experience hearing loss so severe that may make communication difficult. As a major public health issue, it ranks third in the most common physical conditions after arthritis and heart disease. As we age over 65 years, it is reported that one out of three people experience hearing loss, which may sometimes be confused with, or complicated by, conditions similar to dementia.
Types of Hearing Loss
- Sensorineural: Damage to possibly both the inner ear (sensory loss) and to the auditory nerve (neural loss). This type is typically a loss of clarity and volume.
- Conductive: Interference with the transmission of sound through the external ear canal, the eardrum, the small bones in the middle ear, the middle-ear cavity, and/or the Eustachian tube. This type is typically a loss of volume.
- Mixed: Hearing loss affected by both sensorineural and conductive components.
What to do if you feel you have a hearing loss
Make an appointment with our South Florida ENT physician, Dr. Mark Agrama, to check the ears for wax, infection, or a treatable disease. After treatment, your physician may refer you to our Audiologist, Dr. Marissa Land, to thoroughly evaluate your hearing sensitivity and degree of hearing loss. From there, they can make the appropriate recommendations. If you are diagnosed with a hearing loss that cannot be managed medically, hearing aids may be a good option for you. Our Audiologist can help you with the decision making process and thoroughly explain your options.
What if you need hearing aids?
We give our patients appropriate recommendations for their particular hearing loss. What may work for one patient, may not work for another. The visit for obtaining hearing aids is very individualized for each patient and their needs. We work with our patients to assist in the process of learning and adapting to the new experience hearing aids bring. Time, practice, and patience are key to any new experience.