Hearing Loss Explained
Your hearing loss is unique to you, and you will experience it differently than other people you may know that also have hearing loss. This also means that the treatment plan for you should look different than someone else you know with hearing loss. At McNamara Hearing, we make sure you have all of the information you need to both understand your hearing loss and feel comfortable in your treatment decision with us.
Signs of Hearing Loss
If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to schedule a hearing test:
– Difficulty understanding speech; “I hear you, I don’t understand you”
– Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
– Trouble hearing in noisy environments
– Needing to turn up the volume on the TV or audio devices
– Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Types of Hearing Loss
There are three main types of hearing loss:
- Conductive hearing loss: This occurs when sound waves are blocked from reaching the inner ear. Common causes include earwax buildup, fluid in the middle ear, ear infections, allergies, or a perforated eardrum.
- Sensorineural hearing loss: Damage to the hair cells in the inner ear prevents sound signals from reaching the brain. Most frequently associated with aging, other contributing factors include genetic predisposition, head trauma, inner ear malformations, exposure to loud noises, and certain medications.
- Mixed hearing loss: A combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
