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 Frequently Asked Questions:
- What are the causes of hearing loss?
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The cause of hearing loss is varied but
some of the most common causes are:
- Excessive Noise exposure
- Aging (presbycusis)
- Infections
- Injury to the head or ear
- Birth defects or genetics
- Ototoxic reaction to drugs or cancer treatments |
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- How common is hearing loss?
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Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions
affecting older adults but it can affect people of all ages. A MarkeTrak
survey performed in 2004 found that 31.5 million Americans have a
hearing loss. 3 in 10 people over the age of 60 have hearing loss
and 1 in 6 baby boomers (ages 41-59) have a hearing problem. 1 in
14 Generation Xers (age 29-40) experience hearing problems and at
least 1.4 million children have a hearing loss. The good news is that
over 90% of people with hearing loss can benefit from hearing instruments.
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- Why is it important to have a diagnostic hearing evaluation?
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A diagnostic hearing
evaluation is performed by one of our audiologists and determines the
type, degree and configuration of your hearing loss. If testing confirms
you are a candidate for hearing aids, the audiologist will help to determine
the right hearing solution for you. This recommendation is made after
considering your lifestyle and personal goals. Your personal decision
to wear a hearing instrument, combined with realistic expectations,
is the first steps to improved hearing. |
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- Do I have to get two hearing aids?
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If you have a hearing loss in both
ears, then you are most likely a candidate for two hearing aids. Here
are some reasons why two hearing aids are better than one:
- Better speech understanding
- Better understanding in group or noisy situations
- Better ability to localize sound
- Better sound quality
- Feeling of balanced hearing |
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An Audiologist is a professional who diagnoses,
treats, and manages individuals with hearing loss or balance problems.
They also select, fit and dispense hearing aids and assistive listening
devices. Audiologist's have received a master's or doctoral degree
from an accredited university program. Their academic and clinical training
provides the foundation for patient management from birth through adulthood. |
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- What are reasonable expectations for Hearing Aids?
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It is very important to have realistic
expectations about the benefit of hearing aids. Hearing aids will not
restore your hearing to normal. Hearing aids will improve speech understanding
in most listening situations. If the hearing aids are not meeting your expectations,
relay this to your audiologist and he/she may be able to make the appropriate
adjustments to meet your needs. |
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- How do I know if I have a hearing loss?
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Hearing loss can be subtle and occur gradually
or it can be sudden. If you feel that you are having trouble hearing children/women,
having ringing in your ears, feel embarrassed for frequently misunderstanding
conversations, think others sound muffled, or have a family history of
hearing loss, you should contact an audiologist to have your hearing tested. |
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About 50 million people suffer from tinnitus.
In almost all cases, tinnitus is a subjective noise, meaning that only
the person who has the tinnitus can hear it. People describe tinnitus
using different terms such as ringing, crickets, whooshing, pulsing, or
buzzing. For some people tinnitus can be temporary or intermittent while
others can experience it 24 hours a day. Tinnitus maskers can be used
to mask the ringing sound. Hearing aids may also be a solution for masking
tinnitus. |
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