Hearing Loss: Diagnosis and Treatment

Do you think that you might be experiencing hearing loss? The first sign of this will usually be changes to the volumes of noise that you can hear. For instance, you might find that you are straining to hear the TV at the regular volume and need to turn it up. If that’s the case, then it’s important to make an appointment with an audiologist. They will determine whether you are experiencing hearing loss and the level of hearing loss that you have. This could be mild, moderate or severe. 

How is hearing loss diagnosed?

The first step of a hearing loss diagnosis is always going to be to book an appointment with an audiologist. The first twenty minutes of this appointment will usually be spent filling in forms and a survey. This survey is designed to reveal any potential treatable causes of your hearing loss or possible underlying causes. That’s why it’s important that you gather the most accurate and full medical history that you can before you visit your audiologist. 

Do be aware that there are a variety of factors that can impact hearing loss. This can include certain types of medicines that you could currently be taking. 

Once you have provided all this information, an audiologist will check it over to make sure there are no red flags. They will then complete a physical examination. This will be used to determine whether there are any physical causes of your hearing issues. That could include impacted earwax or there might even be a growth in your ear. It depends on what the audiologist discovers when they look at your ear. 

If there is a physical cause they will usually be able to provide the solution that you need there and then. This could include an ear cleaning but may also need an appointment for minor surgery. It’s again going to differ on something of a case by case basis. 

A hearing test

The final and most significant part of the diagnosis is a hearing test. A hearing test is used to check if you are experiencing hearing loss. It will also reveal the type of hearing loss you have including whether it is mild, moderate or several. It will further show what frequencies you will struggle to hear and the extent of your hearing damage, measured in decibels. The hearing test will also reveal if you are experiencing any issues with word recognition. 

A hearing test is completed by you sitting in a soundproof booth with headphones on listening to different noises. When you hear a noise, you just need to click a button. Once you click the button, this shows when you are able to hear a particular noise so it’s important to focus here. Distractions are completely removed from the environment to ensure that you don’t have any issues stopping you from hearing the noise. 

At the end of a hearing test, you will be presented with an audiogram. An audiogram showcases all the information that has been gathered from a hearing test. This can be quite complicated but each section will be explained by your audiologist to ensure that you are fully aware of the extent of your hearing damage. 

Treatment 

The only typical option for hearing loss is going to be hearing aids. Hearing aids can ensure that your quality of life is greatly improved. This means that you will be able to hear and communicate more effectively. The first step is determining whether this is the right treatment for you or even necessary. Often this will be the case however your audiologist will be able to advise you further here. 

Do be aware that certain hearing aids are not suitable for every type of hearing loss. An example of this in the ear hearing aids. They are only going to be beneficial for people who are experiencing mild or potentially moderate levels of hearing loss. Those with severe hearing loss will need to think about getting behind the ear hearing aids. 

Hearing aids are also available with a wide range of different types of tech. This includes Bluetooth connectivity and noise masking. Noise masking is particularly relevant as this provides support for individuals who are experiencing issues with tinnitus as well as hearing loss. Tinnitus is a typical side effect of hearing loss and will cause you to hear noises that aren’t there. These hearing aids can mask that noise. 

We hope this provides you with all the information you need about hearing loss and a potential diagnosis. To learn more about Rametta Audiology & Hearing Aid Center contact Tarentum at (724) 409-4439 or Vandergrift: (724) 567-3233.