Hearing Loss Treatment in Modesto

Learn about the importance of treating hearing loss.

What Is Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is the inability to hear certain sounds or tones in one or both ears. Hearing loss can occur at any age and ranges from mild to severe. If you have hearing loss, you can still hear sounds, it may just be difficult to discern speech or to clearly understand what someone is saying. Even though your hearing loss may be mild, it can affect your ability to properly communicate.

Hearing loss can be caused by a number of factors, the most common being:

Age
Genetics
Exposure to loud noise
Head or ear trauma
Ear infection
Earwax impaction
Ototoxic medications
Underlying health conditions (i.e., heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure)

Types of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can vary in degrees, such as mild, moderate, moderately severe, or profound. There are also different types of hearing loss. Each type of hearing loss affects a different part of the ear, therefore needs to be treated differently. The three main types of hearing loss are sensorineural, conductive, and mixed.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is a problem with the sensory receptors of the hearing system in the inner ear. The majority of sensorineural cases are due to an abnormality or damage to the hair cells in the cochlea. This can be due to a birth defect, age, genetics, infections, certain medications, loud noise exposure, or head trauma. The best treatment option for sensorineural hearing loss is a hearing aid.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Conductive hearing loss is when sound cannot be conducted through the outer and middle ear to the inner ear. Problems usually lie within the ear canal, eardrum, or middle ear. This is often due to outer or middle ear infections, earwax impaction, deterioration of the middle ear bones, ruptured eardrum, or an absence of the outer or middle ear structures. Conductive hearing loss will need to be treated by a medical professional through antibiotics or surgery.

Mixed Hearing Loss

Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both sensorineural and conductive. This is the result of a problem in both the inner ear and the outer/middle ear. The conductive portion may be temporary and can be cleared by a physician while the sensorineural portion is often permanent and will need to be managed with hearing aids.

Hearing Wellness

Signs of Hearing Loss

To be proactive about your hearing health, it’s important to recognize the signs of hearing loss early. This can often be difficult because hearing loss typically occurs gradually, over the course of a few years. If you have experienced any combination of the following, it’s time for a hearing exam.

You can hear but you lack clarity
Sounds seem muffled
You often ask people to repeat themselves
You respond with “Huh?” or “What?”
You have to turn the volume up on the TV to hear
It’s difficult to hear when there is background noise
It’s easier to hear when you’re facing the speaker

Hearing Loss and Cognitive Health

Hearing is an integral way in which we communicate and understand the world. When left untreated, hearing loss can cause a negative effect on your speech comprehension, energy levels, and cognitive abilities.

Studies have shown there is a connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Hearing loss makes it difficult to hear, which can often result in feelings of embarrassment. Those who have hearing loss may socially isolate themselves from other people because they are ashamed of their hearing loss and don’t want anyone to notice. Without conversations and social interactions, you can develop feelings of loneliness, depression, and experience a decline in your cognitive abilities. Your brain needs your hearing to remain active and healthy.

Hearing and Balance

Did you know our ears are responsible for more than just our hearing? Inside your ears, within the cochlea to be exact, is where our sense of balance comes from. Sometimes, hearing loss and dizziness or balance problems can occur simultaneously. This often occurs if there is some type of damage to the inner ear where the cochlea is. This can be due to head trauma or a condition such as Meniere’s disease.

If you are experiencing dizziness or balance problems along with hearing loss, you should have your hearing examined immediately. We can perform an otoscopic exam and evaluate your inner ear to determine if there is a problem.