Hearing aid manufacturers continue to make improvements by developing hearing aids that are more effective for all types of hearing loss, including high-frequency hearing loss. Headphones work by increasing the volume of sounds. Many people who consider themselves deaf still have some degree of hearing. If this is the case, specially designed hearing aids can improve your hearing.
Hearing aids can increase your knowledge of speech and other sounds around you. They can be used alone or with visual cues, such as lip reading or sign language, to help you better recognize and understand speech. There is no medical or surgical treatment for hearing loss caused by noise. Damaged hair cells don't grow back.
As much as possible, you should try to protect your hearing. If you have hearing loss, you should take steps to keep it from getting worse. With digital hearing aids, a computer chip converts incoming sounds into digital code and then analyzes and adjusts the signal based on your specific needs, as revealed in the hearing test. These conductive losses can be treated with standard hearing aids or with implantable devices anchored to the bone.
If a child is born with sensorineural hearing loss, it is most likely due to a genetic syndrome or an infection that is transmitted from mother to fetus inside the womb, such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, or herpes. If you already have a hearing loss, there are ways to help you make the most of your hearing. Alternatively, a person with age-related hearing loss may have temporary mixed hearing loss due to the impact of earwax. Consult a hearing health professional if you have sudden hearing changes, ear discharge, excessive earwax build-up, pain, dizziness, constant ringing or ringing (tinnitus), a noticeable difference in one ear, or have an increased sensitivity to sound (hyperacusis).
Adults with mild hearing loss may be able to hear some conversations but have trouble understanding all the words being said. Treatment options for mixed hearing loss will depend on whether the loss is sensorineural or conductive in nature. The amount of wax accumulated in the ear (excessive amounts of wax or moisture may prevent the use of in-ear headphones). Hearing aids, customized to fit the size and shape of the individual's ear canal, are generally used for mild to moderate hearing loss.
If you're not a good candidate for hearing aids, you may find cochlear implants or other devices useful. Because hearing aids don't restore normal hearing, it can take time to get used to the different sounds the device transmits. A less common type of hearing loss is conductive hearing loss, which occurs when there is an obstruction or damage to the outer or middle ear that prevents sound from reaching the inner ear. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures that children with hearing loss receive special education between the ages of 3 and 21. If most of the loss is sensorineural, hearing aids or implantable devices may be the best option.
