What are the Main Symptoms of Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is a common problem that many people face, and it can often go undetected for years. This is because the early signs of hearing loss are often subtle and can be easily dismissed.

What Causes Hearing Loss?

The leading causes of hearing loss include:

• Age
• Noise
• Exposure
• Ototoxic medication
• Hereditary

If you or someone you know suffers from any of these conditions, then it’s crucial to get them checked out by their hearing specialist right away.

A variety of factors can cause hearing loss, including aging ears that have decreased sound transmission capacity over time due to repeated exposure or damage caused by loud noises like those found in construction sites where workers spend hours hammering on steel beams without proper protection, such as earplugs explicitly made for this purpose; ototoxic medications (medications that can damage the inner ear) prescribed for conditions such as cancer and autoimmune diseases; or, hereditary factors passed down from parents to children.

What are the Main Symptoms of Hearing Loss?

The main symptoms of hearing loss are: difficulty understanding speech, especially in noisy environments; feeling like people are mumbling; frequently saying “what?” or needing others to repeat themselves often; turning up the volume on the TV or radio louder than usual; experiencing ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and having a difficult time following conversations when more than one person is talking. If you experience any two or more of these symptoms, it would be advisable to get your hearing checked out by a specialist.

How is Hearing Loss Treated?

The treatment for hearing loss depends on what caused it in the first place and how severe it is. For example, some temporary cases of hearing loss are caused by a buildup of earwax that once removed, will remedy the issue.

Most commonly, a hearing specialist will recommend a hearing aid if you’re experiencing permanent hearing loss. Hearing aids come in a variety of different sizes and styles, making it easy for you to work with your specialist to find the right fit for your specific needs. The most common hearing aids include:

• In the ear (ITE)
• In the canal (ITC)
• Completely in canal (CIC)
• Invisible in canal (IIC)
• Behind the ear (BTE)

When looking for the right hearing aid, it’s essential to have a baseline audiogram done so that you have a full understanding of your hearing loss and what kind of amplification you need.

It’s important to get checked out by hearing instrument specialist if you’re experiencing hearing loss so that they can determine what the right treatment is. They can also discuss any potential causes that may be contributing to your hearing loss, such as noise exposure, medications or earwax impaction.