I'd Like To Learn About:

• Symptoms of Hearing Loss
• Ears and How Hearing Works
• Different Types of Hearing Loss

Hearing Loss

Often times, hearing loss is a very gradual thing. People may notice they are not hearing as well as they used to but put off doing anything out it.

Some common symptoms of hearing loss include:
-Difficulty understanding all the words in a conversation clearly
-Trouble hearing in crowds or in situations with background noise
-Asking people to repeat themselves
-Feeling that people are mumbling or not speaking clearly
-Trouble hearing on the telephone
-Difficulty understanding the television
-Family and/or friends often complain that you are not hearing

If 2 or more of these symptoms sound familiar to you, it is suggested you get at least a baseline screening to determine if you have a hearing loss. Contact us now to set up an appointment>

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Anatomy of the Ear

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Outer Ear
External Ear (pinna): Collects sound and sends into the ear canal.

Ear Canal: Carries the sound to the eardrum (tympanic membrane). The eardrum separates the outer and middle ear.

Middle Ear
Eardrum (tympanic membrane): a thin membrane that vibrates with sound and causes the malleus, incus and stapes bones to vibrate.

Middle Ear Bones (ossicles): the three smallest bones in the body are located in the middle ear and are called the malleus, incus and stapes. Movement of these bones causes fluid to move within the cochlea.

Inner Ear
Cochlea: the hearing mechanism of the ear. Hair cells within the cochlea are stimulated by sound waves and send impulses to the Auditory nerve

Auditory Nerve: carries the signals from the cochlea to the brain where they are received and processed as sound.

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Types of Hearing Loss

There are 3 types of hearing loss:

Conductive Hearing Loss: this occurs when sound is physically prevented from reaching the inner ear. This type of hearing loss can sometimes be corrected thru medical or surgical treatment. Some common causes of conductive hearing loss include a perforated eardrum, impacted wax or wax build-up, fluid in the middle ear and issues with the bones of the middle ear.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss: this occurs when there is damage to the hair cells located inside the cochlea (inner ear) or there is damage to the auditory nerve. This type of hearing loss typically cannot be medically or surgically corrected. Some common causes of sensorineural hearing loss include family history of hearing loss, prolonged exposure to loud noises, ototoxic medications, infections and normal loss associated with aging.

Mixed Hearing Loss: this occurs when both of the above types of hearing loss contribute to the overall hearing loss. The first step is to be examined by an ENT for the conductive component to the overall hearing loss. They ENT may be able to correct the conductive loss medically and/or surgically. An audiologist can fit a hearing aid to help with the sensorineural component of the overall hearing loss if the loss is fitable.

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