Hearing Loss

As you age, it is common to experience gradual hearing loss. An estimated 1/3 of Americans between the ages of 65 &75 and close to 1/2 of those older than 75 have some degree of hearing loss, according to the National Institutes of Health.  

Heredity & chronic exposure to loud noises are believed to be the main factors that contribute to hearing loss over time. Other factors, such as wax blocking the ear, can prevent your ears from handling sounds as well as they should.

You cannot reverse hearing loss. However, there are steps you and an audiologist or hearing doctor can take to improve your hearing. Below we touch on some hearing loss symptoms, causes and treatments.

Hearing Loss Symptoms

Talk with your audiologist if you have been having difficulty hearing.  If you find that its harder to understand everything that is said in conversation, if sounds feel muffled, or if you find yourself having to turn the volume higher when you listen to music, the radio, or television, you may have a hearing loss.

For some people, the cause of hearing loss is the result of a gradual buildup of wax in the ear, which blocks the ear canal and prevents conduction of sound waves. Earwax blockage is a cause of hearing loss among people of all ages.

However, in most cases, hearing loss results from damage to the inner ear. Aging & prolonged exposure to loud noise may cause wear & tear on the hairs or nerve cells in the cochlea that send sound signals to the brain. When these hairs or nerve cells are damaged or missing, electrical signals are not transmitted as efficiently, and hearing loss occurs. Higher pitched tones may become muffled to you. It may become difficult for you to pick out words against background noise. Heredity may make you more prone to these changes.

Ear infection and abnormal bone growths or tumors of the outer or middle ear can cause hearing loss as well. A ruptured eardrum also may result in loss of hearing.

Hearing Loss Treatments

The treatment for hearing loss depends on the cause & severity of your hearing loss. Treatments include:

• Removing wax blocking the ear. Wax blocking the ear is a common reversible cause of hearing loss. Your doctor may remove earwax by loosening it with oil and then flushing, scooping or suctioning the softened wax out.
• Hearing Aids. If your hearing loss is due to damage to your inner ear, a hearing aid can be helpful by making sounds stronger and easier for you to hear. An audiologist can discuss with you the potential benefits of using a hearing aid, recommend a device and fit you with it. To find an audiologist or hearing clinic near you, click here.
• Cochlear implants. If you have more than a profound hearing loss, you and your doctor should discuss whether or not you are a candidate for cochlear implants. Unlike a hearing aid that amplifies sound and directs it into your ear canal, a cochlear implant compensates for damaged or nonworking parts of your inner ear. If you're considering a cochlear implant, your audiologist, along with a medical doctor who specializes in disorders of the ears, nose and throat (ENT), will likely discuss the risks and benefits with you.