Hearing Aids Audiologist Rogers AR
Treatment Options for Hearing Loss Depend Upon Type of Loss
Hearing loss treatments vary depending upon the type of loss diagnosed. That is why it is so important to have a complete and thorough hearing test before deciding upon the type of treatment that is best for you.
The most common type of hearing loss is sensorineural which occurs when auditory nerves and cells are permanently damaged due to exposure to loud noise, aging, head injury, heredity and some medications. Sensorineural loss is most often treated with hearing aids, however, if the loss is severe-to-profound, a cochlear implant may be appropriate. (A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to the wearer by bypassing damaged cells within the cochlea. It is implanted directly into the cochlea, inside the inner ear where sound vibrations are converted to nerve impulses).
Conductive hearing loss occurs when the outer or middle ear structures fail to work properly, preventing sounds from reaching the inner ear. Head injury, birth defects and infections are the primary causes of this type of loss. While hearing can often be restored with medication, this type of loss can also be treated with traditional hearing instruments or with bone conduction implantable hearing aids, depending upon the severity of hearing loss. (A bone conduction aid requires an implant to be placed in the bone behind the ear where it receives sound waves transmitted from a sound processor. It works by using the body's natural ability to conduct sound vibration through bone, allowing the cochlea to "hear" without airwaves that traditional hearing devices require to work).
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural loss. This type of loss can be treated with traditional aids or bone conduction implantable aids.
Single-sided deafness is defined as profound sensorineural hearing loss in one ear only. The other ear remains in good working order. A bone conduction implantable aid may be a suitable treatment option for this type of loss.
New hearing loss treatments become available frequently, so make sure to ask your audiologist or hearing aid specialist to keep you informed on technological advancements made in the hearing industry.
Call us today for your Hearing Aid Needs-Rogers Arkansas
