Hearing Loss

What is Hearing Loss?

Overview

Hearing loss is a partial or total inability to hear sounds in one or both ears. It can range from mild difficulty hearing certain pitches or words to complete deafness. Hearing loss may develop gradually over time or occur suddenly, and it can affect people of all ages.

While some forms of hearing loss are temporary and treatable, others are permanent. Early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve communication, preserve hearing ability, and enhance quality of life.

Who is Affected?

Hearing loss can affect anyone, but it is more common in:

• Adults over the age of 60 due to age-related changes (presbycusis).
• People with prolonged exposure to loud noise, such as musicians, factory workers, and military personnel.
• Children with frequent ear infections or congenital hearing conditions.
• Individuals with a family history of hearing loss.
• People with certain medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or autoimmune disorders.

Hearing Loss Symptoms & Causes

Symptoms of Hearing Loss

Symptoms include:

• Difficulty understanding speech, especially in noisy environments.
• Frequently asking people to repeat themselves.
• Turning up the TV or radio volume higher than normal.
• Trouble hearing consonants or higher-pitched voices.
• Muffled hearing or a feeling of fullness in the ears.
• Ringing, buzzing, or humming in the ears (tinnitus).

Causes

Hearing loss has many different causes, some of which can be treated with medicine or surgery.

Types of Hearing Loss:

• Conductive Hearing Loss: Caused by problems in the ear canal, eardrum, or middle ear bones (ossicles). Often treatable with medication or surgery.
  
• Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Caused by damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve. Usually permanent but often treatable with hearing aids or cochlear implants.
  
• Mixed Hearing Loss: A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
  

Common causes include:

• Tumors on the hearing or balance nerve (acoustic neuroma).
• Age-related degeneration of inner ear structures.
• Prolonged exposure to loud sounds.
• Ear infections or fluid in the middle ear.
• Earwax buildup.
• Ototoxic medications (drugs that damage hearing).
• Head or ear injuries.

When to See a Doctor

Prompt attention improves treatment options and long-term outcomes. Seek medical evaluation if you experience:

• Persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears.
• Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears.
• Gradual decline in hearing ability affecting daily life.
• Ear pain, drainage, or pressure.
• Hearing loss accompanied by dizziness or balance problems.

Hearing Loss Diagnosis

Diagnosis involves a detailed history, physical exam, and hearing tests conducted by an audiologist or ENT specialist. Common diagnostic steps include:

• Pure tone audiometry (hearing test.
• Speech recognition testing.
• Tympanometry to evaluate eardrum and middle ear function.
• Imaging studies such as MRI or CT scan for structural issues.
• Blood tests if hearing loss is suspected to be related to infection, autoimmune disease, or metabolic causes.

Hearing Loss Treatment & Outcomes

Treatment Options for Hearing Loss

After a medical evaluation, ENT physicians determine whether medication, surgery, or hearing devices are appropriate.

• Hearing Aids: Improve communication and can help prevent auditory nerve atrophy in cases of significant hearing loss.
• Cochlear Implants: Recommended for severe or profound sensorineural hearing loss when hearing aids are no longer effective. Patients can be evaluated and treated in a streamlined and efficient manner in our state-of-the-art cochlear implant clinic.
• Surgical Treatments: May be indicated for conductive hearing loss, such as repairing eardrum perforations or reconstructing middle ear bones.
• Medical Management: Treating infections, removing earwax, or adjusting medications that may affect hearing.

Hearing Restoration

Our team is dedicated to helping you rediscover the joy of sound through comprehensive our hearing restoration services. We offer three leading-edge initiatives designed to improve your hearing and quality of life.

• Cochlear Implant Clinic: While hearing aids are widely prescribed for hearing loss, these are not always the best option. For those whose hearing loss is not improved by the use of hearing aids, or have single-side hearing loss, cochlear implants may represent a better solution for hearing restoration.
  Contact us for a consultation: 310-829-6595
  
• Hearing Aid Recycling Program (HARP): We have partnered with industry sponsors to provide the necessary services to clean and prepare recycled hearing aids for a new life of use. Hearing aids are fitted and refurbished for people with limited financial resources to hearing-related care. Monetary and hearing aid device donations are gratefully accepted.
  Contact us for more information: 310-909-0180
  
• CELEBRATE Protocol: Starting with hearing loss reversal, our experienced multispecialty team brings an integrated holistic approach to living a full life as we age. With expert guidance, you can achieve both brain and body benefits, putting you back on the path of brighter days.
  Contact us for more information: 310-477-5558

Patient Outcomes

Many patients experience significant improvement in communication, social engagement, and quality of life with proper treatment. Early intervention leads to the best outcomes. While some types of hearing loss can be reversed, others can be managed effectively to preserve remaining hearing and enhance listening ability.

Managing Hearing Loss

• Protect your ears from loud noises by using earplugs or earmuffs.
• Keep the volume at safe levels on personal listening devices.
• Maintain cardiovascular health through diet and exercise to support ear circulation.
• Follow up regularly with your audiologist or ENT specialist.
• Address ear infections and wax buildup promptly.

Meet our Expert Specialists & Surgeons

Abbas A. Anwar, MD

ENT Surgery, Neurorhinology

David M. Butler, MD

ENT Surgery, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Chester F. Griffiths, MD

ENT Surgery

Courtney Voelker, MD, PhD (DPhil Oxon)

Ear, ENT Surgery

Experience Compassionate, Expert Care

At Pacific Neuroscience Institute, we provide comprehensive hearing care, from initial evaluation to advanced treatment options. Our multidisciplinary team includes ENT surgeons, audiologists, and cochlear implant specialists who collaborate to offer:

• Advanced diagnostic testing.
• Personalized treatment plans.
• State-of-the-art hearing devices and implantable technology.
• Ongoing support and rehabilitation services.

Our goal is to help you hear better, communicate more easily, and improve your overall quality of life.

Hearing Restoration at PNI

• Holistic Approach: Our care goes beyond medical treatment, emphasizing a holistic approach that combines advanced medical interventions with personalized support and guidance.
• Comprehensive Expertise: Our highly skilled and experienced specialists including neurologists, otolaryngologists, and audiologists, ensure you receive the most comprehensive and tailored care for your unique hearing needs.
• Leading-Edge Technology: With access to the latest advancements in hearing restoration technology, we offer top-tier cochlear implant procedures and hearing aids, delivering superior outcomes and quality of life for our patients.

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