The ears, just like any other part of the body, age as a person gets older. So, gradual hearing loss as one ages is quite normal. However, environmental factors, such as overexposure to loud noises, can also affect a person’s hearing health. An evaluation from a hearing clinic in Ada, OK can help determine the extent of your hearing loss and if you will need a hearing aid.
Causes
Old age is the usual cause of hearing loss. However, it can also affect younger people due to many different reasons. Here are just some of the most common causes of hearing loss.
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Presbycusis
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Genetics
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Birth defects
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Overexposure to excessively loud noises
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Infections
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Ototoxic drugs
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
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Acoustic neuroma
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Autoimmune inner ear disease
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Ménière’s disease
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Otosclerosis
Symptoms
Hearing loss is often gradual, so you may not notice it at first. But as time passes by, you will start noticing some changes with your hearing, such as the following.
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Speech and other sounds sound muffled to you
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Difficulty hearing consonants
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Trouble understanding words, especially in a crowd of people or against background noise.
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Avoiding conversations and social gatherings
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Turning up the volume of the radio or television.
If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, do not hesitate to go to the nearest hearing clinic in Ada, OK for a hearing evaluation.
Hearing Tests
Several tests can be done to diagnose hearing loss.
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Physical exam
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General screening tests
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Tuning fork test
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Audiometer tests
Treatment
There are several treatments available depending on the severity of your hearing condition.
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Excess earwax removable
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Surgical procedures
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Hearing aids
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Cochlear implants
Some hearing problems are reversible, while others are not. But, don’t worry. Just because it’s not reversible doesn’t mean you will no longer be able to hear. Surgery is an option for those who’ve had a traumatic ear injury or infection that affected their hearing. Hearing aids are also available to those who have hearing loss due to damage to their inner ear. And finally, those with severe hearing loss can have a cochlear implant. Your hearing specialist will know best what type of treatment is best for you. For more information about these services click here. You can also visit them on Google My Business.
