Many case studies have been made in reference to hearing loss. From audiology through otolaryngology new discoveries are made to help relieve a patient’s hearing loss, be it minimal or severe. There are many factors involved in why someone loses their hearing or why others may be born with certain conditions that cause the loss.
The first thing to understand is that audiologists and otolaryngologists work for the same goal, but take different routes to get there. The main objective is to help people deal with their hearing loss in a positive manner, and possibly give them various opportunities to gain a lot of it back. However, audiologists look to take a general care route as opposed to surgical procedures.
If an individual has conductive hearing loss, this occurs thanks to defective sound wave transmissions. You will find that conductive loss can start by earwax buildup, a burst eardrum, or even fluid in the ears. Then of course high noise levels, getting older or ototoxic drugs can contribute to sensorineural loss.
Then of course there is also mild hearing loss. When you delevop this issue your hearing loss will be in the 40db range. Think of this as normal conversational tones. Once you pass this threshold you will be considered of having moderate loss, which is in the 40-60db range. The equivalent here is when people need to speak louder to the individual for them to hear.
When you take the audiology route, they use special equipment to determine your hearing rate. For instance an otoscope may be used to inspect eardrums, tones will figure out your decibel levels, and speech recognition as well as other tests will be important. The point is there are various options available here. Sometimes even tuning forks are used when necessary.
Questions are put to the patient to determine certain factors in hearing loss. You may be asked when it was that the loss began, was it sudden or gradual, one or both ears, do you hear ringing? The answers to these and other questions will help the audiologist determine how you lost your hearing. For instance, a sudden and painful loss could indicate that you have a narrow canal with debris inside caused by otitis externa. If you have a constant sound in your ears than you may have tinnitus.
Sometimes audiology will realize your hearing loss can be treated with earwax removal, a hearing aid, earplugs, or protection from loud sounds. Add in a little continuing education of safety for the eardrum and you could be good to go.
Regardless of whether or not you have mild or severe hearing loss, you will still want to see an audiologist for screening and testing. The answers you find here will determine the next course of action and what type of treatment will be necessary. You might even find out that diets, self-health issues, and educational referencing may be brought up in the process. In the end just follow up with your doctors and let them help you through your hearing loss issues.
Our web helper is a retired high school instructor. He is now creating out of his home in Minnesota. His interests include health related issues such as loss of hearing. Some informational articles of interest are hearing minneapolis. His goal is to help other people his age group remain active.