Does it seem like your favorite news anchors aren’t speaking loud enough anymore? Do your neighbors let you know you’re chatting a bit too loudly on the telephone? You might be experiencing hearing loss. Though hearing loss is usually a natural part of the aging process, infections, major injuries, tumors, and heart conditions can all affect your ability to hear properly. Thankfully, your favorite ENT doctor in West Seneca, NY can help you out.
Why Am I Experiencing Hearing Loss?
There are a few different kinds of hearing loss including conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss. A problem in the ear canal, eardrum, or middle ear, such as wax build-up, fluid, an infection, or even a tumor will prevent sound from traveling to the inner ear and therefore result in a conductive hearing loss. By contrast, if there is any damage to the brain or auditory nerve due to noise exposure, chemotherapy, radiation, or trauma, you’ll likely experience sensorineural hearing loss.
That being said, you very well might be multiple issues at hand.
Should I See an ENT Doctor in West Seneca, NY If I Am Experiencing Hearing Loss?:
You might be losing your hearing simply because you’re getting older. However, that may not be the case. You should definitely make an appointment with your local ENT doctor in West Seneca, NY to have your ears checked by a professional. If you do have an infection or are suffering from a more serious condition, it’s imperative that you get treatment as soon as possible.
How Can an ENT Doctor in West Seneca, NY Help Me?
Your ENT doctor in West Seneca, NY will first administer a formal hearing test that will tell you how many decibels you can hear. Normal hearing ranges from 0-20 decibels, and profound hearing loss is above 90 decibels. Your physician will discuss possible treatment options with you if your hearing loss is due to some other underlying cause. Otherwise, there is a range of hearing aids and implant devices that will allow you to participate normally in social situations despite minor to moderate hearing loss.
Final Thoughts:
Make the effort to take good care of your ears. The hearing is a gift, and you don’t want to lose it due to carelessness. Maintain your hearing health by avoiding excessively noisy areas or wearing earplugs if you know you’ll be exposed to loud noise for an extended period of time. Also, make sure to keep the volume to a reasonable level especially when using earbuds. If you think you might be experiencing hearing loss though, don’t hesitate to contact your local ENT doctor in West Seneca, NY.