Usually people realize they have hearing loss when they have trouble following conversations with background noise, miss parts of conversations, feel like others mumble when they speak, turn the volume up on the television, and avoid social gatherings. Unfortunately, it takes a person, on average, five to seven years to seek help for diminished hearing. It is often at the urging of family members that people finally seek help.

Today’s hearing aids are not the ones your parents or grandparents used and struggled with. Hearing amplification has improved tremendously. However, there are still some poor-quality hearing aids being sold. At Gateway ENT, we only offer advanced hearing aids that will improve your hearing. There can be an adjustment period, and our team of expert Audiologists will work with you every step of the way, evaluating, adjusting and counseling to get not only the best aid for your hearing needs but also the one that works best with your budget and appearance.

You should immediately call Gateway ENT. There are some conditions, leading to a sudden loss of hearing that require quick medical intervention to prevent permanent hearing loss. It should be noted that even with medical intervention a sudden hearing loss may not be reversible. Under both scenarios, care by a Gateway ENT physician will be beneficial.

Conductive hearing loss results when sound waves are muffled or blocked before they reach the inner ear. Conductive hearing loss is usually treated medically. The causes of conductive hearing loss include earwax buildup, perforations of the ear drum, ear infections or genetic hearing disorders. This type of loss is medically or surgically treated by Gateway’s ENT physicians.

Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve pathways that transmit sound to the brain. Sensorineural loss cannot be reversed and is usually not treatable through surgery or medication, but it can be significantly improved through amplification.

One of the most common causes of hearing loss is noise induced. It can be the result of occupational and recreational noise exposure, including noise from motorcycles, shooting, playing in bands, loud rock concerts, fireworks, grass mowing etc. We strongly encourage you to use ear protection while enduring any loud noises.

Another major cause of sensorineural hearing impairment is due to aging. At age 45, it is estimated that at least 18 percent of the population experiences hearing loss and this number increases to 30 percent at age 65, and 47 percent at age 75. So nearly half of the population would benefit from hearing help by age 75.

Mixed hearing loss is the combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, which can involve damage in the outer, middle, and inner ear simultaneously. An example of a mixed hearing loss is a patient who might have wax in the ear canal but also have a sensorineural hearing due to the aging process or noise exposure. These losses may be treated by procedures, medication, and amplification.