Hearing Loss
According to the World Health Organization, around 466 million people worldwide have some form of hearing loss and 34 million of those people are children.
Hearing loss can happen due to a variety of reasons, such as:
- Certain infectious diseases
- Chronic ear infections
- The use of particular drugs
- Exposure to excessive noise
- Genetic causes
- Complications at birth
- Aging
Our hearing evaluations are designed to diagnose exactly which part of your ear isn’t functioning and thus allows us to create the most appropriate treatment plan for your needs.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
The most common type of hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss occurs due to a problem with the inner ear or auditory nerve. It presents itself when either the auditory nerve or the hair-like cells in the cochlea have sustained damage or are missing. This results in the inability to send complete nerve signals to the brain.
This kind of hearing loss can be caused by the following:
- Head trauma
- Illnesses
- Drugs that are toxic to hearing (ototoxicity)
- Genetics
- Malformation of the inner ear
- Exposure to loud noise
- Aging
Conductive Hearing Loss
Although rather uncommon and typically temporary, a conductive hearing loss can occur in some patients. It’s caused when an issue in the outer or middle ear blocks sound from the inner ear. Treatment involves the use of medication or surgery while other individuals opt to use hearing aids to improve their hearing ability.
Conductive hearing loss can be caused by:
- Ear infections
- Benign tumors
- Swimmer’s Ear
- Foreign object in the ear
- Fluid in the middle ear from colds
- Absence or malformation of the outer ear, ear canal, or middle ear
- Allergies
- Perforated eardrum
- Impacted cerumen (earwax)
Mixed Hearing Loss
When multiple parts of the ear’s anatomy are damaged, a mixed hearing loss can occur. In most cases, both the middle or outer ear along with the auditory nerve or inner ear have sustained an injury of some type or have encountered one of the conditions listed above. The conductive hearing loss present may be reversible while the sensorineural hearing loss is often permanent.
Auditory Processing Disorders
Rather than a hearing impairment which affects the ability to detect sounds, Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) causes individuals to struggle with their ability to organize, analyze, and interpret noises around them. While all parts of the ear are functioning properly, those with APD find that the hurdle they encounter is in their brain.
Often caused by a tumor, disease, injury, heredity, or an unknown cause, the auditory processing centers in the brain do not function normally. APD does not always include hearing loss and many times the treatments for this disorder versus a hearing impairment are dramatically different.
Hearing loss is as varied as the people it affects. What works for one patient may not work for another, so that’s why we take a customized approach to your care.
At Audiologic Solutions we utilize a collaborative approach to hearing healthcare so we will work together as a team. Your needs and priorities are just as important as our recommendations. We also understand the value that family members and friends can bring to this important visit. We encourage all patients to bring a loved one with them to their hearing evaluation. This can also help to make you feel more relaxed and allows you to discuss your options with someone you love and trust.
We pride ourselves on taking a personalized approach to hearing healthcare, and never attempt to recommend options that take on a “one size fits all” mindset. Instead, we know that your hearing needs are as unique as you are, and we will work to create a customized solution that fits both your budget and lifestyle.
Want to do more now? Take our quick online hearing test to see if you have hearing loss!
Hearing FAQs
Here are some of the common questions we get in our clinic. If you have further questions, please contact us today!
A hearing test (or a hearing evaluation) can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, and that is from the moment you walk through our doors to the moment you walk out. A comprehensive hearing evaluation doesn’t take too long, and it is completely painless.
If you aren’t sure if you have hearing loss, the best thing to do would be to schedule a hearing evaluation to know for sure. Maybe you have slight hearing loss or hearing loss in just one ear. Hearing loss varies from person to person so the type and degree of hearing loss can only be determined if you have a hearing test.
Many people who experience hearing loss can attest to the fact that there is a sort of denial and mourning period. Because it says so here: Hearing loss. So many people mourn the loss of their hearing and what this means for them moving forward. The best thing you can do is help them work through their feelings, do some research on helpful resources, and tell them they should get a hearing evaluation from a professional. Sometimes, not knowing and being in denial is harder than knowing and deciding what you can do about it. Knowing if you have hearing loss can be liberating because they can fully understand how to improve their hearing moving forward. Once people start treating their hearing loss, they start to feel like themselves again.
The cost of hearing aids varies from type of hearing aid, brand of hearing aid and services included.
Some audiologists include services with the purchase of hearing aids while others bill services a la carte. If you buy hearing aids online without any professional guidance or through an office that does not have hearing professionals on staff, your pricing may be less, but so will your overall care.
We understand that hearing aids are a substantial investment – but the cost of hearing aids has been going down. Because your hearing ability is linked to so many other aspects of your overall health (like brain health, balance, and mental health) it really is crucial that you seriously consider the investment in yourself.
It is true that hearing aids can produce whistling sounds or feedback but there are several different reasons for this, all of which are easily resolved.
- If your hearing aid doesn’t fit right or too loosely, it will allow the amplified sound to escape from your ear, causing feedback.
- You may also receive feedback if you stand too close to a surface that reflects sound, such as a wall.
- Some feedback problems occur because the device’s volume control is too high.
You can easily remedy most of these feedback problems on your own but if you find you need some additional assistance, one of our professionals can help you find a solution.
Possibly, but it depends on what type of hearing loss you have and its severity. There are several hearing-related tools like hearing amplifiers, amplified telephones, TV listening systems and personal listening systems. Plus, we also need to consider if you have any other underlying conditions (like tinnitus). We are always happy to develop a treatment plan that works best with your needs and lifestyle.
Have more questions?
Contact us and we’ll discuss things in more detail.
Our Locations
We have 3 hearing care clinics in Rensselaer, Hudson and Queensbury.
