Often, a family member or friend will be the first to\nnotice a hearing problem. Since treatment is most effective when begun early,\nif you think you might be suffering from diminished hearing, do not hesitate to\nschedule an appointment with a hearing specialist. The sooner the better!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to diagnose hearing loss,\u00a0an audiologist will review your medical history, discuss your symptoms and perform a physical examination followed by a hearing evaluation consisting of a series of audiological tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treatment recommendations will depend on your type of\nhearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are\nthree types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sensory\/neural (formerly known as sensorineural)\nhearing loss<\/strong> is the most common type of hearing loss. It\ninvolves a problem with the inner ear. Sensorineural hearing loss is usually\ntreated with hearing aids. It may be caused by any of these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conductive hearing loss<\/strong> occurs\nwhen sound vibrations are dampened as they pass through the middle ear system,\nfrom the eardrum to the inner ear. Conductive hearing loss is sometimes\nremedied by surgery or medications. In chronic cases, it may be treated with\nhearing aids. It may be caused by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mixed hearing loss<\/strong> is a combination of both types.\nTreatment might involve a combination of medication, surgery and\/or hearing\naids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the different types\nof hearing loss, it is important to consider the extent to which a patient is\nexperiencing symptoms. Hearing loss is further categorized as being either\nmonaural or binaural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unilateral\nhearing loss <\/strong>affects one ear\nonly, while bilateral hearing loss <\/strong>affects both ears. The\nterm single-sided deafness<\/strong> is sometimes used when one ear\nhears almost nothing and the other ear hears normally or almost normally.\nAsymmetric hearing loss means both ears are affected, but the type or\ndegree of hearing loss is not the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Noise-induced hearing loss is\nthe most common type experienced by younger individuals. It can be caused by\nexposure to a single loud sound, such as a gunshot or explosion, or by longer exposures to\nloud noise over a period of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As sound exceeds 85\ndecibels of sound pressure level, it is important to limit exposure time to avoid damage\nto the auditory system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Activities that are likely to put people at risk for noise-induced\nhearing loss include hunting, riding a motorcycle, using\npower tools, working around heavy machinery, listening to music at\nhigh volumes, playing in a band or orchestra and\nattending live concerts. An estimated 15\npercent of Americans aged 20 to 69 have hearing loss that may have been caused\nby noise exposure. Many of these activities can be\nmade safer by wearing properly\ninserted earplugs and\/or earmuffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Protecting your ears is the\nkey to hearing loss prevention. If your job exposes you to hazardous noises,\nmake sure proper safety equipment that meets state and federal regulations is\nprovided. Hearing protection\u2013earplugs and earmuffs\u2013is essential when working\naround loud equipment. It\u2019s always a good idea to bring along earplugs if\nyou\u2019re participating in a noisy recreational activity (e.g., a football game or\nrock concert), as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At home, limit your exposure\nto noisy activities and keep the volume down on the television, stereo and\nespecially when it comes to personal listening devices like MP3 players.\nPrevent other types of hearing loss by refraining from inserting cotton swabs\nor other objects into your ears, blowing your nose gently through both nostrils\nand quitting smoking. Studies show those who use tobacco are more likely to\nsuffer from hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of your age, have\nyour hearing tested regularly. Early detection is key. While noise-related\nhearing loss can\u2019t be reversed, you can still take steps to avoid further\ndamage to your hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/drlindachiu.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/155234574-e1582133588646-1280x476.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow Is\nHearing Loss Diagnosed? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Are\nthe Types of Hearing Loss?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hearing Loss Prevention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n