Hearing Disorders in Adults: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Hearing is an important part of your everyday life, and hearing loss can impact your life in so many ways. Damage to any structure between the outer ear and the brain can cause hearing impairment, reducing and distorting the message. Hearing loss is often a slowly progressive condition that isn’t noticed at first and is frequently denied by the individual suffering from impairment.
The process of hearing involves a complicated pathway as sound waves travel from the outer ear, through the middle ear, to the cochlea and then up the auditory nerve to the auditory centers in the brain, where sounds are interpreted and processed for understanding.
In 2006, 37 million adults in the United States identified themselves as having difficulty hearing (ranging from a little trouble to being deaf). If you think you have a hearing loss, please contact your physician soon.
Types of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss affects people of all ages and can be caused by many different factors. The three basic categories of hearing loss are sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
This type of hearing loss occurs when the inner ear or the actual hearing nerve itself becomes damaged. Sensorineural loss is the most common type of hearing loss. It can be a result of aging, exposure to loud noise, injury, disease, certain drugs, or an inherited condition. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss may occur very suddenly or over the course of a few days. It is imperative to see an otologist (a doctor specializing in diseases of the ear) immediately.
Conductive Hearing Loss
This type of hearing loss occurs in the outer or middle ear where sound waves are not able to carry all the way through to the inner ear. In some people, conductive hearing loss may be reversed through medical or surgical intervention.
Mixed Hearing Loss
Sometimes people can have a combination of both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.
Causes of Hearing Loss
There are lots of possible causes of hearing loss. Hearing loss can be harder to spot in babies. It may be caused by something treatable or it may be permanent.
People over age 50 may experience gradual hearing loss over the years due to age-related changes in the ear or auditory nerve. The medical term for age-related hearing loss is presbycusis.
Symptoms of Hearing Loss
Your symptoms may give you an idea what could be causing it. Hearing loss may make you feel as if you’re missing out on life. You may feel uncomfortable trying to carry on telephone conversations or frustrated because you can’t enjoy your favorite movies or shows. You may feel isolated or depressed.
Diagnosis and Testing
Most adults received their last hearing test when they were in grade school. It is a good idea to have your hearing checked when you are an adult at least once during your annual physical. Hearing testing is critical for discovering exactly what type of hearing loss you have and will help determine the hearing care solution that is right for you.
Treatment Options
Treatment for hearing loss depends on what's causing it. Sometimes a GP may be able to treat the cause, for example:
- An ear infection might be treated with antibiotics
- An earwax build-up might be treated with ear drops or removed
If your hearing loss is not caused by something a GP can treat, they may refer you to a hearing specialist for further tests and treatment.
Hearing Aids and Implants
If you have permanent hearing loss, a specialist will often recommend hearing aids. These will not make your hearing perfect, but they make sounds louder and clearer. If you are considering a hearing aid, you are bound to have questions.
Some people may need a hearing implant.
Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
There are many kinds of over-the-counter hearing aids on the market, ranging from inexpensive hand-held amplifiers to self-fit devices that can be calibrated to your amplification needs with a smartphone app.
Seeking Professional Help
Hearing problems don’t discriminate and can affect people at any stage of life. Our center’s physicians are among the finest and most highly skilled otologists and neurotologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors) in the world. If you think you have hearing loss, talk to a healthcare provider or audiologist. They’ll determine the best way to improve your hearing.
Care at Cleveland Clinic: Hearing is an important part of your everyday life.