Are you unable to hear sounds or people talking unless they are quite loud? You might want to get your hearing tested by a professional to find out if you are suffering from hearing loss. There are actually numerous things that can cause someone to lose the ability to hear. In this article, you will find the answers to some of the questions that you might have in mind concerning hearing loss.

Are There Different Types of Hearing Loss?

There are basically two types of hearing loss that someone can experience. You can suffer from conductive hearing loss, which is when the middle ear (eardrum) is not in good shape. You can also suffer from sensorineural hearing loss, which affects the inner area of an ear. However, you must keep in mind that you can have a mixture of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

What Causes Someone to Lose Their Hearing?

Sometimes hearing loss is simply the result of genetics. A common reason for hearing loss is simply due to aging. You can also suffer from hearing loss due to a condition called ototoxicity, which is the poisoning of the inner ear from exposure to certain chemicals and drugs. Head injuries and exposure to loud noise can also have an effect on your ability to hear.

How Can Someone Get Tested for Hearing Loss?

Transtympanic electrocochleography is one of the tests that can be performed for hearing loss. A hearing specialist will test your inner ear to measure the electric signals. The specialist will also look inside of your ears to determine if earwax could be the root cause of the problem. An audiometer test can also be performed to determine how loud sounds must be before you can hear them. During the test, you will wear earphones and tell the specialist when you hear sounds.

What Kind of Treatment is Available?

Hearing loss can be treated based on the specific cause, such as through removing earwax or undergoing surgery. However, one of the most common treatment methods is to wear a hearing aid that can amplify the sound waves flowing into your ears. There are different types of hearing aids that you can choose from. One option is a hearing aid that sits entirely in the ear canal. A specialist from a company like Jacobs Clinical Diagnostics can help with deciding which type of hearing aid might work best for you. Get tested as soon as possible to find out if you need a hearing aid.