Not All Hearing Loss Is The Same

• Posted on: Apr 30 2023
• By: henley.tabal

Our sense of hearing is essential to make everyday communication and interactions easier. Along with being so important, it is also easily affected by both internal and external factors. The loss of hearing can be very concerning. In some cases, hearing loss is only minor and temporary. Other cases, however, are more significant and may end in permanent hearing loss.

Although some causes of hearing loss are from aging or genetics, protection from loud noises or physical damage to the eardrum is essential to maintaining a good sense of hearing.

The signs of hearing loss can vary greatly, depending on the cause. For some, the sound of voices and other noises may become muffled or indistinguishable. Others may have an increase in ringing or buzzing in the ears.

Among the different hearing loss types, damage to cells within the inner ear or the auditory nerve is the most common. This type, called sensorineural hearing loss, is generally caused by genetics, age, or autoimmune diseases.

Conductive hearing loss, on the other hand, is from physical damage or obstruction to the middle or outer ear. In many cases of conductive hearing loss, effective treatment can be performed to help regain hearing.

Though uncommon, mixed hearing loss is a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is usually the result of trauma or other injuries. Treatments may partially regain lost hearing but may lead to further progression of hearing loss.

Some of these treatments involved giving a boost to your sense of hearing by stimulating the structure of the inner ear or changing the nerve signals sent to the brain. An audiologist or neuro-otologist will provide the best relief, depending on your condition.

If you have any symptoms of hearing loss or an increased ringing or buzzing in the ears, call the ENT and Allergy Centers of Texas in Plano, TX, at 972-984-1050 or visit www.enttx.com to schedule a hearing exam. There is no reason to wait and keep allowing hearing loss to interrupt your life.

Posted in: Hearing loss