Hearing Loss
Hearing is one of our five basic senses. It is important in every aspect of our lives. As an adult, our hearing allows us to enjoy our family and friends, to perform well on the job, follow conversations easily and keep us abreast of current happenings. Helen Keller once concluded: “Hearing is the soul of knowledge and information of a high order. To be cut off from hearing is to be isolated indeed”.
About 10% or 30 million Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss – that is close to 35,000 people in the Charleston area. Hearing loss affects:
- 1 out of every 25 children
- 1 out of every 14 adults aged 18 to 44
- 1 out of every 7 adults aged 45 to 65
- 1 out of every 3 adults over age 65
There are several hearing loss solutions offered by the Doctors of Audiology at Advanced Hearing Care. We will work with you and your family to determine the appropriate treatment for your hearing loss concerns. It is important to understand the types and causes of hearing loss as well as the general warning signs. We encourage you to read the following facts about hearing loss and take a brief hearing quiz to determine if you are a candidate for our comprehensive diagnostic hearing evaluation.
Types of Hearing Loss
There are three basic types of hearing loss:
Sensorineural hearing loss
Sensorineural hearing loss involves damage to the inner ear or auditory nerves. It can be caused by several factors, including disease, birth injury, viral and bacterial infections, genetics, head trauma, exposure to loud noise, and aging. It represents 95% of all hearing loss cases. Sensorineural hearing loss is generally irreversible and permanent. Most people will report that “they can hear but not always understand”. This type of loss can be substantially helped through the use of hearing aids. If you are suffering from this type of hearing loss, the Doctors of Audiology at Advanced Hearing Care can help. Our practice offers the latest hearing aid technology in the Charleston area.
Conductive hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss involves damage to the outer or middle ear. There are several conditions that may cause conductive hearing loss, including fluid in the middle ear, impacted earwax, a punctured eardrum, ear infections, and fused or disarticulated middle ear bones. Conductive hearing loss can be effectively treated medically or surgically. This type of hearing loss represents only 5% of all hearing loss. The Doctors of Audiology at Advanced Hearing Care can help you determine the treatment that is right for you and refer you to a physician or ear specialist if necessary.
Central hearing loss
Central hearing loss is commonly known as an auditory processing disorder (APD). It is primarily seen in children, though some adults may experience this type of hearing loss as well. An APD is different from the types of hearing loss described above. This disorder does not affect hearing sensitivity, not is the person’s ability to understand speech in quiet affected. A person with an auditory processing disorder often has trouble understanding rapid speech or speech in noisy situations. Primary treatment for this type of hearing loss is auditory training and rehabilitation.
For more complete information on central auditory processing issues, please see our Special Report on “Understanding Auditory Processing Disorders in Children”.
Warning Signs
Symptoms of hearing loss may include:
- Hearing but not understanding
- Asking others to repeat
- Feeling that everyone mumbles
- Turning the TV or radio up louder
- Relationships are strained
As a result of hearing loss, life can be less enjoyable. Therefore, the decision to invest in better hearing is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. It is one that the Doctors of Audiology at Advanced Hearing Care take very seriously. We can help. Please contact Advanced Hearing Care today for more information on what we can do to help you with your hearing loss concerns.