Managing hearing loss is challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to provide you with accurate information, personalized care, and support every step of the way.
Hearing loss is a common medical condition that affects millions of people globally. It can have a considerable impact on one’s quality of life, making it challenging to communicate with others, engage in social activities, and participate in life as a whole.
Untreated hearing loss can lead to negative consequences, including mental decline, social withdrawal, or even depression or isolation. If you suspect that you have hearing loss, it’s best to see an audiologist and get your hearing tested.
What are the three types of hearing loss?
The three main types of hearing loss are conductive, sensorineural, and mixed.
Conductive hearing loss involves an obstruction in the middle or outer ear that prevents sound from reaching the inner ear. This can be caused by fluid buildup in the middle ear, ear infections, impacted earwax, or structural abnormalities.
Sensorineural hearing loss is associated with damage in the nerve pathways or inner ear. This can be caused by genetics, aging, infections, noise exposure, certain medications, and other medical conditions.
Meanwhile, mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. As the name suggests, this type of hearing loss can be linked to factors affecting both the inner ear/nerves and the outer/middle ear.
What are the 5 levels of hearing loss?
Hearing loss is typically measured in decibels (dB) and categorized into five levels of severity as follows:
- Mild hearing loss: 26 to 40 dB hearing loss.
You may have difficulty hearing soft or distant sounds and speech in noisy environments.
- Moderate hearing loss: 41 to 55 dB hearing loss.
You may have trouble hearing normal conversation, especially in noisy environments.
- Moderately severe hearing loss: 56 to 70 dB hearing loss.
You may only be able to hear loud speech or shouting, or a person talking loudly next to you.
- Severe hearing loss: 71 to 90 dB hearing loss.
You may only be able to hear very loud sounds, such as a vacuum cleaner, a car horn, or someone talking through a megaphone or microphone.
- Profound hearing loss: 91 dB or more hearing loss.
You may not be able to hear any sounds at all, or might only be able to hear sounds at a very faint volume.
It’s worth noting that the severity of hearing loss can vary depending on the affected frequencies. Some people have better hearing in selected frequency ranges than others.
Additionally, hearing loss can affect one ear or both ears, and the severity may also vary in each ear.
This is why it’s highly important to get your hearing tested by an audiologist or hearing healthcare professional to identify the severity and type of hearing loss you may have.
Am I going deaf or is my ear just clogged?
It can be truly challenging to determine on your own whether you are experiencing hearing loss or if your ear is just clogged with wax. To give you a better understanding of hearing loss, below are some of its symptoms:
- Difficulty understanding speech, especially in environments with substantial background noise
- Constantly requesting others to repeat themselves
- Turning up the volume on the phone, radio, or TV at a higher level than usual
- Having the perception that people are mumbling
Meanwhile, here are typical symptoms of a clogged ear:
- A feeling of fullness in the ear
- Muffled hearing in one or both ears
- Tinnitus
- Itching in the ear
- Vertigo or dizziness
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, we would recommend that you schedule a consultation with your audiologist to have your ears examined.
Bottomline
Getting diagnosed with hearing loss is not a dead end. It’s not the end of the world for you, you can still live life normally and pursue your dreams with passion!
Technology, research, and innovations in the hearing aid industry have made addressing hearing loss much easier and more accessible. Working with the right audiologists and getting the appropriate hearing aid will make a huge impact on your journey to hearing better.
Audiologists in Fort Wane, IN
Audiologists at HearCare Audiology can help address and diagnose hearing loss and other hearing concerns you may have.
Our team is here to partner with you in your journey towards better hearing health. We will work with you to develop a customized treatment plan, referring you to specialists if necessary, and provide ongoing support and service to help you with your hearing.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!