Hearing Loss

Hearing losses are common today because of various problems, the most common of which is noise exposure.
The most common symptoms are:
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Difficulty with understanding speech, especially in environments where there is background noise such as church or restaurants.
• Complaints from family and friends that you don't hear them or they have to repeat themselves.
• A sensation of fullness or pressure in the ear similar to that experienced when you travel up a mountain or fly.

Hearing losses are generally divided into one of three catagories.
• Sensorineural Hearing Loss-A hearing loss where there is actual damage to the nerve system which allows you to hear. This type of hearing loss is most commonly not surgically correctible unless it is so very severe as to make Cochlear Implants an option. Generally most patients with sensorineural hearing loss benefit from hearing aids.
• Conductive Hearing Loss-A hearing loss where sound is blocked from reaching the "inner ear". The inner ear houses the nerves which receive the sound imput and transmits it to the brain. Concuctive losses are caused by a variety of disorders which include (1) holes in the eardrum (2) fluid behind the eardrums (3) tumors or masses behind the eardrum, on the eardrum or in the ear canal. (4) disarticulation or immobility of the three bones within the "middle ear" space. (5) wax or foreign bodies in the ear canal which obstruct the transmission of sound to the eardrum. (6) retraction of the eardrum or stiffness of the eardrum which prevents normal movement. (7) other less common disorders.
• Mixed Hearing Loss-A hearing loss which is a combination of nerve damage (sensorineural) and conductive hearing losses, caused by any combination of the above problems.

HEARING LOSS TREATMENT
Treatment for hearing loss is generally surgical or non-surgical. Most Conductive Hearing Losses are surgically treatable.