It takes an average of seven years from the time a patient suspects they have hearing loss to the time they seek treatment. One of the most common reasons patients wait to seek treatment is confusion or fear surrounding the process. Let’s look at what you can expect from hearing loss treatment to help you take the leap before the seven-year line.
Conducting Hearing Tests
The process starts with a comprehensive hearing test to identify your type and degree of hearing loss. Through non-invasive pure-tone testing, we identify the softest sounds you can hear at various pitches. Your responses help us create an audiogram—a graphical representation of your hearing capabilities.
Once we have your audiogram, we’ll review it and explain what it indicates about your hearing health. We then classify your hearing loss from mild to profound to help you better understand your condition.
Reviewing Treatment Options
Treatment options vary based on the cause and type of your hearing loss—whether conductive or sensorineural.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs when an obstruction prevents sound from passing through the ear. Common causes include perforated eardrums, benign tumors, ear infections, Eustachian tube blockages or foreign objects in the ear. Treatment options might involve medications for infections, surgical interventions to remove obstructions or hearing aids if the condition is permanent.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
SNHL is caused by damage to the inner ear and can be a result of aging, head injuries, prolonged noise exposure, illnesses, exposure to ototoxic drugs or genetic factors. Although most causes of SNHL are irreversible, hearing aids can help compensate by providing clearer communication.
Choosing the Right Hearing Aids
If hearing aids are recommended, we’ll help you find the ideal fit for your needs. We’ll consider styles, from behind-the-ear to completely-in-canal, and incorporate features like Bluetooth® connectivity and noise reduction to ensure your hearing aids suit your lifestyle perfectly.
Embarking on the journey to improved hearing can seem overwhelming, but the benefits are life-changing. Start your journey to clearer hearing by scheduling an appointment with Hearing Center Silver Spring to meet with one of our experts.