Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent health conditions affecting people of all ages. However, with some effective treatment, hearing loss can be reversed. Mostly, the appropriate treatment for hearing loss will rely on various factors such as the severity of hearing loss, its underlying cause, its type, and lifestyle. To know the best treatment for hearing loss, continue reading this blog.

In children, untreated hearing loss will have a detrimental effect on social interaction, learning, and language development. On the other hand, hearing loss in adults will make communication challenging and reduce the quality of life. For people approaching their retirement years, untreated hearing loss may create several physical and psychological issues such as depression, cognitive decline, and so on. So, if you or anyone who knows has trouble hearing, then first get a hearing test and a comprehensive evaluation from a hearing care specialist.

Diagnosis of Hearing Loss

The following are some common tests medical professionals perform to diagnose hearing loss.

• Physical Examination: A healthcare expert examines the ear for potential causes of hearing loss, such as earwax or an infection. The structure of the ear also leads to hearing issues.
• Hearing Tests using Mobile Apps: Patients may check themselves for hearing loss by using a mobile app on their phone.
• Screening Tests: A whisper test can reveal how individuals respond to different noises by covering one ear at a time and listening to phrases delivered at various volumes.
• Tuning Fork Tests: Tuning forks are two-pronged metal instruments that produce sounds when struck. Simple examinations with tuning forks can aid in detecting hearing loss. They may also indicate where the ear injury is.
• Audiometer Tests: These more complete examinations are performed by a hearing loss specialist, known as an audiologist. Earphones direct sounds and phrases to each ear. Each tone is repeated at low levels until the quietest sound can be heard.

Other hearing tests that audiologists conduct to identify the causes of hearing loss are Pure-Tone testing, Otoacoustic Emission Test (OAE), and Tympanometry.

Different Stages of Hearing Loss

Initially, after performing hearing tests, the audiologists will discuss test results and explain them to the patients. Hearing loss is frequently categorized according to its degree. How loud sounds must be for you to hear them is known as the degree of loss. As per the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the degree of hearing loss is classified as

• Normal
• Slight
• Mild
• Moderate
• Moderately Severe
• Severe
• Profound

Types of Hearing Loss

Generally, the treatment differs based on severity level and the type of hearing loss. Here, let us, get to know the various hearing loss types.

• Conductive Hearing Loss: This kind occurs when sound waves fail to reach the inner ear from the outside or middle ear.
• Sensorineural Hearing Loss: This begins when there is no detection of normal sound waves in the brain, auditory nerve, or inner ear.
• Mixed Hearing Loss: It is a hybrid of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.

Causes of Hearing Loss

Healthcare professionals can treat hearing loss only after identifying the causes of the medical condition. That is the major reason why they conduct certain hearing tests.

The following are the causes of conductive hearing loss

• Accumulated Ear Wax in Ears
• Fluid from allergies or colds in the middle ear
• Infection in the middle ear (otitis media)
• Osteitis externa, or swimmer’s ear
• Middle ear fluid trap caused by problems with the eustachian tube
• Eardrum ruptured
• Tumors in the ears
• When something is lodged in the ear
• Congenital disorders that alter how a baby’s middle or outer ears develop

These are the causes of sensorineural hearing loss

• Aging
• Diabetes, hypertension, strokes, and coronary artery disease (heart disease)
• Congenital infections like cytomegalovirus (CMV)
• Ototoxicity
• Being hit in the head
• Specific hereditary (inherited) disorders
• Noise-induced hearing loss

Best Treatment for Hearing Loss

To treat hearing loss, several methods are available. But to identify the right treatment, medical experts will examine the patients and find out the hearing loss degree, causes, and types they have been suffering from. Listed below are the treatment options for each type of hearing loss.

Conductive Hearing Loss

• Drugs such as antibiotics to treat ear infections
• Tympanoplasty to repair a ruptured eardrum
• Tympanostomy to insert ear tubes
• Tumor removal surgery.
• Procedures for removing ear wax and other items from the ear canal.
• Depending on the condition of the hearing nerve, a bone-conduction hearing aid, a surgically implanted, osseointegrated device (such as the Baha or Ponto System), or a conventional hearing aid may be recommended.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

• Corticosteroids and other medications to reduce swelling in the cochlea hair cells. (Loud noise can cause harm to your cochlea hair cells.)
• Customized Hearing aids. If hearing loss is caused by inner ear damage, a hearing aid can help. An audiologist will explain how hearing aids work and what types are available and will help you meet your needs.
• Cochlear implants. When a standard hearing aid is unlikely to be effective, a cochlear implant may be a possibility. A cochlear implant is not like a hearing aid, which amplifies and channels sound into the ear canal. Instead, a cochlear implant is placed around the inner ear structures that do not stimulate the hearing nerve.

Mixed Hearing Loss

Treatment options differ depending on the exact conditions impacting the outer, middle, and inner ears.

Conclusion

No matter what type of hearing loss you or the people you know suffer from, with appropriate treatment, the illness can be managed. If you are seeking the best clinic to treatment hearing loss in New Delhi, then book an appointment at the Asha Speech and Hearing Clinic for consultation. Our team contains experienced audiologists and speech therapists in India to provide support for hearing loss and enhance communication. After a complete evaluation of the individuals, the professionals will diagnose the hearing loss problems and offer customized treatment to improve the quality of life.