Farmington, NM
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Hearing Loss Causes

Are You Struggling
With Hearing Loss?

Are You Struggling With Hearing Loss?

It may be affecting you more than you think. Hearing empowers us and helps us live without limitations. It enables us to socialize, work and communicate. It also helps us stay connected to the outside world and keeps us safe. Healthy hearing even helps us relax. Despite these factors, our hearing is something we often take for granted.

According to the Hearing Loss Association of America, approximately 48 million Americans, or 20 percent of the population, are living with some degree of hearing loss. Additionally, 25 percent of American adults have reported experiencing tinnitus (ringing or buzzing sounds in the ears) which lasted for five minutes or longer. Because hearing loss is usually a gradual process, these people don’t get treated right away.

When your hearing declines – and it does for most people at some point in their lives – it can be devastating. Hearing loss doesn’t simply affect your physical health, it can also impact your emotional health and social well-being. It is important to recognize the signs of hearing loss when they first occur, so the cause can be determined and potential treatment options can be explored.

What Causes Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is caused by numerous factors, including:

How
Hearing
Loss
Occurs

How Hearing Loss Occurs

In a typically-functioning ear, sound waves are captured by the outer ear and sent through the ear canal to the eardrum and make it vibrate. These vibrations reverberate through the bones in the middle ear. The motion of the bones causes the fluid and the hair cells in the inner ear or cochlea to move. These changes cause electrical pulses that then travel to the brain via an auditory nerve.

Loud noises can hurt the hairs or nerve cells that send sound signals to the brain, especially when exposed for long periods. Once these are damaged the electrical signals aren’t as clear or aren’t transmitted correctly, and you experience hearing loss.

If you have hearing loss, The Hearing Center at Pinon Hills ENT is here to help. Contact us and make an appointment to discuss your treatment options so you can once again hear all the sounds and conversations that are important to you in your daily life.

How Hearing Loss Occurs

In a typically-functioning ear, sound waves are captured by the outer ear and sent through the ear canal to the eardrum and make it vibrate. These vibrations reverberate through the bones in the middle ear. The motion of the bones causes the fluid and the hair cells in the inner ear or cochlea to move. These changes cause electrical pulses that then travel to the brain via an auditory nerve.

Loud noises can hurt the hairs or nerve cells that send sound signals to the brain, especially when exposed for long periods. Once these are damaged the electrical signals aren’t as clear or aren’t transmitted correctly, and you experience hearing loss.

If you have hearing loss, The Hearing Center at Pinon Hills ENT is here to help. Contact us and make an appointment to discuss your treatment options so you can once again hear all the sounds and conversations that are important to you in your daily life.

Which Hearing Loss Is Progressive
and Associated With
Aging?

Not all hearing loss is the same. Treatment will depend on the type of hearing loss you have.

Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type. Symptoms include difficulty understanding sounds or speech at normal volume. It is often caused by repeated exposure to loud noises, damage from noise over long periods of time or disease. Because of that, this type of hearing loss is often associated with aging.

Conductive hearing loss happens when you have a mechanical problem in the outer or middle ear, or by an obstruction in the ear canal, such as build-up of ear wax. Conductive hearing loss can be permanent or temporary.

Mixed hearing loss features components of both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.

Which Hearing Loss Is Progressive and Associated With Aging?

Not all hearing loss is the same. Treatment will depend on the type of hearing loss you have.

Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type. Symptoms include difficulty understanding sounds or speech at normal volume. It is often caused by repeated exposure to loud noises, damage from noise over long periods of time or disease. Because of that, this type of hearing loss is often associated with aging.

Conductive hearing loss happens when you have a mechanical problem in the outer or middle ear, or by an obstruction in the ear canal, such as build-up of ear wax. Conductive hearing loss can be permanent or temporary.

Mixed hearing loss features components of both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.

How Hearing Loss Affects More Than Just Communication

If you’re experiencing hearing loss, it can affect all areas of your life. Here are just some of the ways life changes when you have untreated hearing loss.

How Hearing Loss Affects More Than Just Communication

If you’re experiencing hearing loss, it can affect all areas of your life. Here are just some of the ways life changes when you have untreated hearing loss.

The Importance of Treating Hearing Loss

Most types of hearing loss are minor and treatable. Research has shown that treating age-related hearing loss has many benefits, such as improving the ability to hear in social situations and communicate with others. Effective treatment makes it easier for older adults to continue their normal routines and interact with friends, family members and other people they communicate with each day.

At The Hearing Center at Pinon Hills ENT, our audiologists can help. A simple hearing test will determine if you suffer from hearing loss, including how mild or severe it is. A thorough hearing test will also tell us what kind of hearing loss you have which will determine treatment options and whether you’ll need to be referred to a specialist.

Call us today at 505-608-6325 to set up an appointment.

The Importance of Treating Hearing Loss

Most types of hearing loss are minor and treatable. Research has shown that treating age-related hearing loss has many benefits, such as improving the ability to hear in social situations and communicate with others. Effective treatment makes it easier for older adults to continue their normal routines and interact with friends, family members and other people they communicate with each day.

At The Hearing Center at Pinon Hills ENT, our audiologists can help. A simple hearing test will determine if you suffer from hearing loss, including how mild or severe it is. A thorough hearing test will also tell us what kind of hearing loss you have which will determine treatment options and whether you’ll need to be referred to a specialist.

Call us today at 505-608-6325 to set up an appointment.

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Medically reviewed by Charmin M. Quintana, Au.D., FAA on April 2021.

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