Hearing Problems & Solutions
Hearing Problems to Look for and Listen for
Hearing problems can manifest themselves in many ways. One person might not be able to hear you unless you speak louder and another might only be able to hear partial words no matter how loudly you speak. If you have a hearing problem, chances are it is one of the types listed below. Not sure? Review the Signs of Hearing Loss and if you or someone you knows struggles with any of those problems, Arizona Hearing Specialists can help.
Types of Hearing Loss:
- Conductive Hearing Loss occurs when the transmission of sound through the outer and middle ear is interrupted. Common Causes: Wax build up in the ear canal, perforated eardrum, fluid in the middle ear, damaged ossicles.
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss occurs in the inner ear affecting the transmission of sound through the cochlea and/or auditory nerve. Common Causes: Exposure to loud noise, trauma, the normal aging process, or disease.
- Mixed Hearing Loss occurs in the outer and/or middle and inner ear. It’s a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. It could be wax blockage in the ear and damage to the cochlea. Usually these problems are treated with hearing instruments.
Signs of Hearing Loss:
- Family complains radio or TV is too loud.
- To the impaired person, people seem to mumble when they speak.
- Impaired person can hear people speaking but they can’t quite understand what they’re saying.
- Impaired person often asks people to repeat what they said.
- Impaired person has a hard time understanding conversation in a group or at a party.
- Ringing in ears or roaring in the ears.
- Hard to hear voices or sounds on the telephone.
- There can be active drainage from the ear, an experience of sudden hearing loss or rapid hearing loss in one or both ears, sudden ongoing dizziness, or pain or discomfort in the ear.
- Common causes of hearing loss are hereditary, trauma, disease, noise exposure, and aging.
