hearing loss

Hearing loss often carries consequences of everyday activities, causing life to become increasingly difficult. Whether it causes complications with conversations, watching television, or business meetings, many people find that hearing loss will cause them to become socially isolated, and their quality of life can diminish.

• Social Obstacles – Some people with hearing loss may experience fear, sadness, or anxiety. They may also reduce their social activities. However, hearing aid users experience a significant increase in their quality of life as soon as they start using a hearing aid.
• Physical Obstacles – Based on the cause of your hearing loss, not treating hearing loss can result in tiredness, headaches, vertigo, and stress. These are not always caused by untreated hearing loss, but they are often observed in hearing loss cases.

Causes of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can occur in any part of the ear:

• Outer Ear – Some common complications that may lead to hearing loss in the outer ear include ear wax and infections of the ear canal. This type of hearing loss can be treated by one of our ENT physicians.
• Middle Ear – This type of hearing loss is generally caused by fluid buildup behind the eardrum or perforations of the eardrum. Most middle ear treatments involve medication or surgery. However, this type of hearing loss can also be improved with a hearing aid, if needed.
• Inner Ear – Most cases of hearing loss occur in the inner ear due to aging, genetics, or exposure to loud noises. These factors damage the fine hair cells and diminish the transmission of signals to the auditory nerve. Nerve loss should be treated with appropriate hearing aid(s).

Hearing loss can cause life to become increasingly difficult in situations such as daily conversations, watching television, or in the workplace. Many people find that hearing loss will cause them to become socially isolated, and their quality of life can diminish. Some people with hearing loss may experience fear, sadness, or anxiety. They may also reduce their social activities. However, hearing aid users experience a significant improvement in their quality of life.

If you are experiencing hearing loss, you should contact Alabama ENT Specialists to schedule an appointment. A comprehensive audiological evaluation will be completed to determine the cause and severity of your hearing loss. One of our ENT physicians will discuss possible medical treatment or cause and referral to one of our audiologists, if needed.  For more information, visit our blog!

Frequently Asked Questions About Hearing Loss