Medical and surgical treatment options for hearing loss are expanding. It is generally accepted that early intervention with some types of hearing loss, especially sudden hearing loss, is associated with favorable outcome. Like eye glasses for poor eyesight, hearing aids are essential in treating hearing loss.

There are many different causes of hearing loss, which can affect all ages. Some common causes are hereditary, trauma, disease, noise exposure and the aging process.

Conductive Hearing Loss occurs when the transmission of sound through the outer and /or middle ear is interrupted. The common causes are wax buildup in the ear canal, a perforated eardrum, fluid in the middle ear, or damaged ossicles. Sensorineural Hearing Loss occurs in the inner ear affecting the transmission of sound. Common causes are exposure to loud noise, trauma, the normal aging process, and disease. Mixed Hearing Loss occurs in the outer and/or middle ear and the inner ear.

Sound enters your ears in sound waves. These sound waves hit your eardrum and are converted to pressure changes in the inner ear. This causes special nerves to impulse, which are read by your brain as sound. When these nerves are exposed to a surplus of pressure changes, they may become damaged. You may have noticed that if you listen to loud music for several hours that your ears "ring." This is a Temporary Threshold Shift, or a temporary reduction in hearing.

long as you have some hearing, they will work. And, you do not need to have equal hearing in each ear. Any hearing in one ear will be enough. People have even reported results when the hearing was entirely by bone conduction.

If you question whether you have hearing loss, you should see an audiologist. The audiologist will examine your ears and perform a hearing evaluation in a sound booth to determine whether you have hearing loss, and if so, what degree and type. If the audiologist determines that you have signs of a medical problem, you will be referred to your personal physician prior to obtaining hearing aids. Most insurances cover hearing evaluations.

All infants should be screened for hearing loss before 1 month of age, preferably before leaving the birth hospital. The age of a child when a hearing loss is diagnosed is important to the development of the child’s speech, language, cognitive, and psychosocial abilities. Without universal screening by 1 month, the average age at which hearing loss is identified in children is 2 to 3 years old. Newborn hearing screening costs about $30 per child and takes about 9 minutes to do.

If you think you have a hearing loss, please contact your physician soon. In some cases, hearing loss can be prevented from worsening. back to top

Hearing loss is a very prominent condition in our society. It affects 28 million Americans (10% of the population), including 35-40% of people over the age of 65 and 50% over the age of 74 years old. In some cases, hearing loss can be congenital, meaning that the person could be born with a lack of hearing.

Results from hearing screening programs in other states indicate that around one child in every thousand (1/1000) has a significant bilateral (in both ears) hearing loss at birth. 

Hearing aids are not always effective for watching television, which is why many hearing professionals are recommending TV Ears as a complement to hearing aids. Doctor recommended TV Ears has the power to satisfy the needs of anyone with hearing loss. You'll hear every word and never disturb others again with loud TV volume. The Professional and Home Theatre Systems are are also compatible for use with hearing aids. All TV Ears systems are great products for anyone with hearing loss.

Yes. The number of weeks you are entitled to receive benefits for occupationally-induced hearing loss depends upon the amount of hearing loss attributable to the your work.

To determine whether you suffer from hearing loss it is best to consult a licensed medical professional or audiologist who will properly assess your hearing ability. Often, people who suffer from hearing loss recognize that they have a reduced ability to communicate as they find speech or conversation more difficult to follow. This may result in frustration as one feels others are mumbling, needs to ask others to repeat themselves or may avoid social situations because of embarrassment.