Around 33 million people across the United States suffer from hearing loss. If you’re experiencing problems with your hearing, call Vitale Ear, Nose & Throat in Wesley Chapel or Zephyrhills, Florida. The practice’s expert audiologists will test all aspects of your hearing, offering treatment for reversible causes of hearing loss. They can also help you choose a hearing aid from their extensive selection. Call Vitale Ear, Nose & Throat today or book an appointment online to arrange your hearing test.
Hearing loss limits your ability to hear sounds, making things quieter or muffled. The three main types of hearing loss are:
A blockage in the outer or middle ear is the leading cause of conductive hearing loss. These blockages are often treatable conditions like impacted cerumen (earwax), problems with the bones in your middle ear, or fluid behind your eardrum.
Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to hair cells or nerves in your ears. The most common cause of sensorineural hearing loss is long-term exposure to excessive noise — working with heavy machinery and listening to loud music frequently cause sensorineural hearing loss by middle age. These changes are often permanent.
Mixed hearing loss means you have both conductive and sensorineural problems.
Hearing loss can cause or worsen feelings of isolation and lead to problems like:
The stress of being unable to hear what people are saying can make you withdraw from social situations. Hearing loss significantly reduces your quality of life.
If people seem to mumble or speak more quietly, you could have hearing loss. You might miss essential words and often ask people to repeat themselves. Background noise usually makes the problem worse, and you can feel tired or irritable after an evening out. Having the volume on your TV or radio turned up loud is also a common sign of hearing loss.
To determine if you have hearing loss and what’s causing it, you need to visit Vitale Ear, Nose & Throat. The audiologists assess the cause and extent of your hearing loss with a complete audiological evaluation.
If your hearing loss is conductive, your doctor at Vitale Ear, Nose & Throat might be able to improve your hearing by treating the blockage. That could require a simple procedure like earwax removal or surgery to remove a long-term fluid buildup.
Hearing aids are the most effective treatment for most people with sensorineural hearing loss. Vitale Ear, Nose & Throat uses leading hearing aid brands with advanced technology. These hearing aids come in various styles with different functions to suit each patient’s individual needs.
Call Vitale Ear, Nose & Throat today or book an appointment online to arrange your hearing test.