What typically causes hearing loss, and is it preventable?
Sensorineural Hearing Loss is the most common type of hearing loss. It can be a result of aging, exposure to loud noise, injury, disease, or certain drugs. Hearing loss is preventable by protecting your hearing from noise; many people have lost hearing due to work noise exposure. A single rock concert, for example, can age your hearing 10 years, so protect your hearing as you would protect your eyes.
What are some of the first signs of hearing loss, and at about what age can this happen?
There is no right answer to this question. We fit infants with hearing systems as well as people of all ages. My hearing loss started in my forties. First signs of hearing loss would be having to ask people to repeat themselves or trouble hearing the television. In general, most people lose the higher frequencies which is where the consonants are, so they get by with the vowel sounds. The vowel sound is the power of the words, and consonants are the clarity of the words.
Why is it more difficult to hear people in restaurants or places with more ambient noise as hearing loss occurs?
Difficulty hearing in a noisy environment is an age-old conundrum. For some reason we feel that a hearing aid system should only allow us to hear what we want. However, technology today allows us to help with this better than ever before. Testing new technology has shown that people with newer hearing aids in a noisy environment could hear almost as well as those tested in the same environment who had normal hearing.
Does hearing loss get progressively worse?
For some patients, hearing does not get worse, which is why we try to retest hearing at least once a year, but generally every two years. Small changes in hearing can cause a big difference in performance of your hearing system.
What is the best type of hearing aid currently on the market, and why is it remarkable?
There are basically six companies making hearing aids: Widex, Oticon, Starkey, Resound, Signia and Phonak. We choose which companies work best for each client depending on hearing loss, lifestyle, and history of amplification. All these companies are good; the provider is key. If your provider is good at programming the system to fit your needs, and if you follow through with wearing the hearing system on a schedule, you will be delighted with the outcome.
Is hearing loss permanent, or is there a cure?
Some hearing losses are permanent, and some are temporary. If you suspect a hearing loss, come in for a hearing test to determine if it is permanent, if it can be medically treated, or if it is treatable through proper amplification.
What should I expect on my first visit to Rose Hearing Healthcare Centers?
Your first visit with us should be pleasant, no pressure. We strive to give dignity back to people with hearing loss. We do a best-practice workup to find out if you have a correctible hearing loss or if the hearing loss needs to be medically treated. If hearing aids are the best course, we will let you demo the latest hearing aids and give you a risk-free trial for 30-45 days.