Do your find yourself saying “Huh” often when people talk to you? Are you constantly turning the volume up on your TV, Radio or MP3? The probability is that you are experiencing a hearing loss. What you need to do is schedule an appointment with a Wheaton Audiology specialist to find out why you are having trouble with your hearing.
An audiologist is a doctor that treats people with hearing loss. They also work proactively to prevent hearing and ear related damage. The word “Audiology” comes from the Latin audire, which means to hear; and from the Greek λογία-logia, and is the science branch that studies balance, hearing and their related disorders. They use a variety of test strategies including Otoacoustic emission measurements, hearing tests, electrophysiologic and videonystagmography. Don’t let the scary sounding test names worry you. They are simply the means that a Wheaton audiology doctor uses to find out why you are having hearing challenges.
If your Wheaton audiology does indeed find that you have a hearing loss, they will recommend what options you have. They could suggest hearing aids, surgery, cochlear implants or when needed medical referrals when appropriate.
There are 2 causes for hearing loss and they are:
Conductive– this is when sound can’t reach the inner ear caused by problems occurring in the middle and/or outer ear. With this kind of loss you often feel fullness or pressure in one or both ears and have problems hearing faint sounds. It can be caused by an infection in the outer or middle ear, earwax impaction or some other foreign body impaction. This kind of hearing problem is usually either medically or surgically fixed.
Sensorineural– This is where there has been some damage to your inner ear. With this sort of hearing loss, you often have problems understanding speech, particularly if there is background noise present. You could also suffer with “tinnitus” or ringing in your ears. Hearing loss of this kind could be caused by ototoxic drugs, genetics, head trauma, viruses, aging or exposure to loud noise. The preferred fix for this kind of hearing loss is fitting you with hearing aids.
Your Wheaton Audiology specialist will quickly determine the root cause of your hearing loss and provide the proper treatment so that you can get back to hearing clearly again. You will again enjoy a life full of clear sounds again.
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