A large number of people suffer from some degree of hearing loss, and a vast majority of those who could benefit from hearing loss treatment do not seek it out. With all the different causes and types of hearing loss, individual solutions vary from person to person, meaning an accurate diagnosis of your hearing loss and a personalized recommendation for a solution make all the difference when it comes to treating hearing loss and preventing negative mental, physical, and social side effects from developing.
Causes of Hearing Loss
The two general types of hearing loss, other than ear injury or deformation, are an age-related and noise-induced hearing loss. As we age, it’s natural to lose some auditory acuity, often beginning in the high frequencies of consonants like “t” and “s,” which happens gradually. Noise-related volume loss can also be gradual, with exposure to damaging levels of sound over time slowly degrading your hearing ability.
In both cases, a hearing aid can help. Other causes, such as nerve damage, infection, or other inner ear conditions may need to be treated differently and may not result in permanent hearing loss.
Hearing loss can occur in one or both ears with many of these conditions.
Hearing Loss Symptoms
There are both internal and external (social) symptoms of hearing loss, so being aware of both can help you and your loved ones determine when it’s the right time to have a comprehensive hearing assessment. Symptoms include:
- Saying “what” more and more frequently
- Having trouble hearing conversation in noisy environments
- Hearing ringing in your ears
Social cues that people with hearing loss often demonstrate to make up for their lack of hearing ability include providing vague responses in conversation, taking cues from others in the room (such as laughing when everyone else is), and using lip-reading strategies to try to keep up with conversations.
Hearing loss isn’t always across the entire spectrum of audio frequencies. Some hearing loss starts in the high end, making it difficult to hear higher-pitched voices and sounds. Other types start in the middle, where the human voice gets much of its clarity. Finally, the low end of the spectrum can also give out, making it hard to hear low voices and sounds like lawnmowers.
Treating Hearing Loss
Treatment for hearing loss is highly personal, based on the type and severity of hearing loss as well as other lifestyle factors when it comes to choosing a type of hearing aid. Treatments other than hearing aids include removing blockages in the outer ear, performing ear surgery, and getting cochlear implants.
A thorough brain-hearing evaluation is critical if you want to treat your hearing loss properly. At Hearing Doctors of New Jersey, our proprietary HEAR MethodTM Treatment Program helps you no longer struggle to hear. By utilizing a testing protocol that examines your brain-hearing ability, we are able to customize a treatment program to treat your hearing loss symptoms and your brain-hearing needs. The HEAR MethodTM Treatment Program uses state-of-the-art hearing technology to customize a treatment solution for you.
Hearing Loss Treatment in New Jersey
If you or a loved one may be experiencing the symptoms or signs of hearing loss, don’t wait to get the treatment you need. Learn more about your brain-hearing ability by scheduling a consultation today. Call or contact us online to get started.
