Hearing Aids, Assisted Listening Devices in Chardon, Willoughby, Painesville, Ashtabula, and Middlefield, OH

Causes of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is invisible and nearly always painless. It can also develop over time. If you suspect that you or a loved one is experiencing hearing loss, take a look at the hearing assessment or visit a hearing healthcare professional to take a hearing test.

Hearing loss has many causes, but the most common include:

• Exposure to loud noise
• Family history
• The natural aging process

There are two major types of hearing loss: sensorineural and conductive. Here's a quick overview of each:

Sensorineural loss, where damage has been done to the microscopic hair cells in the ear, is the most common. The vast majority of people with this kind of loss benefit from amplification like hearing aids.

Conductive hearing lossis the result of structural damage to the ear. This kind of loss can be caused by:

• Impacted wax
• Perforated eardrum
• Middle ear effusion (escape of fluid into the middle ear behind the eardrum)
• Otosclerosis (a condition in which the bones of the middle ear become immobile because of bony growth)
• Cholesteatoma (accumulation of tissue in the middle ear caused by repeated middle ear infections)
• Congenital anomalies

Hearing loss can also be caused by:

• Ototoxic drugs (certain antibiotics)
• Viral and toxic illness
• Disturbances of fluid in the inner ear

Find out more about the effects of these hearing losses, assess your or a loved one's symptoms or contact an Audibel hearing professional to schedule an appointment.

Effects of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss affects every aspect of daily life and can reduce your quality of life by making communication more difficult by:

• Causing misunderstandings
• Heightening stress
• Triggering unnecessary fatigue
• Isolating someone from society and loved ones
• Straining relationships with family and friends

Here's the good news — hearing loss can generally be treated with hearing aids. This means you or your loved one can reconnect with life. Assess whether you or a loved one has a hearing loss or contact a hearing care professional to schedule an appointment.

What to expect when you get a hearing aid

• Have realistic expectations. Hearing instruments won't restore hearing to the same level as it once was, but will most likely provide dramatic improvement.
• Be patient — adjusting to wearing a hearing aid takes time.
• Start slowly — wear your hearing instruments for a couple of hours a day at first and build up.
• Be persistent — it's important to consistently wear your instruments so that you get used to them.
• Stay committed — your brain needs time to readjust to hearing sounds it may not have been hearing for years. You will be amazed at your own ability to reconnect with your life with the help of your hearing aids.

Hearing loss can also be caused by:

• Ototoxic drugs (certain antibiotics)
• Viral and toxic illness
• Disturbances of fluid in the inner ear

Check out Audibel's Five Steps to Better Hearing, which shares the five principles vital for success with hearing instruments. Or contact your hearing professional to receive the entire kit including the workbook and DVD.

Hearing loss is invisible and nearly always painless. It can also develop over time. If you suspect that you or a loved one is experiencing hearing loss, take a look at the hearing assessment or visit a hearing healthcare professional to take a hearing test.

Symptoms and Assessment

Hearing loss tends to be gradual. Here are some questions that may indicate that you or a loved one has a loss:

• Have you been told that the TV is too loud for everyone except you?
• Do you have difficulty following conversations in large groups or noisy places, such as restaurants or family gatherings?
• Do you often ask others to repeat themselves, especially young children and women?

If you answered "yes" to any of these, you might have hearing loss. An Audibel hearing care professional can help you decide if hearing aids are a good option for you and help find you the best option for your hearing loss and lifestyle.

If you do have a hearing loss, you aren't alone. More than 31.5 million people in the United Stated currently suffer from varying degrees of hearing impairment. The good news is that most hearing losses can be effectively treated with digital hearing aids. The key to effective treatment is identifying hearing loss early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about hearing loss and hearing instruments? Find out more with these answers to some frequently asked questions.

• How can I recognize hearing problems?
  
  Most of the time hearing problems begin gradually, without discomfort or pain. What's more, family members often learn to adapt to someone's hearing loss, without even realizing they are doing it. Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine whether hearing loss is present:
  
  - Do I often ask people to repeat themselves?
  - Do I have trouble following conversations with more than two people?
  - Do I have difficulty hearing what is said unless I'm facing the speaker?
  - Does it sound like other people are mumbling or slurring their words?
  - Do I struggle to hear in crowded places like restaurants, malls and meeting rooms?
  - Do I have a hard time hearing women or children?
  - Do I prefer the TV or radio volume louder than others?
  - Do I experience ringing or buzzing in my ears?
  
  If you answered yes to several of these questions, chances are you do suffer from hearing loss.
   
• If I had hearing loss, wouldn't my doctor have told me?
  
  Not necessarily. Only about 13% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss. Since most people with hearing impairments hear just fine in quiet environments (like your doctor's office), it can be very difficult for your physician to recognize this problem. Only a trained hearing professional can determine the severity of your hearing problem, whether or not you could benefit from a hearing aid, and which type would be best for you.
   
• What are the most common hearing loss causes?
  
  There are several causes. The main ones include excessive noise, infections, genetics, birth defects, infections to the head or ear, aging, and reaction to drugs or cancer treatment.
   
• Are there different types of hearing loss?
  
  Yes. There are three types of hearing loss:
  Sensorineural: The most common type, it occurs when the inner ear nerves (and hair cells) are damaged and do not properly transmit auditory signals to the brain. Can be treated with hearing aids.
  Conductive: Is typically the result of obstructions in the ear. Can usually be treated medically or surgically.
   
  Mixed: A combination of sensorineural and conductive.
• Are there operations or medications I can take for hearing loss?
  
  Only 5% of hearing loss in adults can be improved medically or surgically. The vast majority of Americans with hearing loss (95%) are treated with hearing aids.
   
• Who treats hearing loss?
  
  • Audiologists are professionals with a master's degree, Au.D. or Ph.D. in audiology, the study of hearing. They specialize in testing, evaluating and treating hearing loss. An audiologist may also fit hearing instruments.
  - Hearing Aid Dispensers are trained in fitting and dispensing hearing aids. Hearing aid specialists are often state-licensed and board-certified to test for hearing loss and to fit consumers for hearing aids.
  - Otolaryngologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, head and neck disorders.
  - Otologists treat disorders of the ear and its related systems.
  - Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists can determine if there's a medical condition causing the hearing loss, or whether medical treatment, such as surgery, could be helpful.
   
• If I think I have a hearing problem, what do I do?
  
  You should make an appointment with a hearing professional for an evaluation, consultation and hearing test. Many hearing care professionals offer this evaluation at no charge.
   
• How do I find a hearing professional?
  
  When seeking treatment for hearing loss, be sure to select a hearing professional who understands the available technology and offers follow-up care.
   
• How will a hearing aid improve my quality of life?
  
  Research on people with hearing loss and their significant others has shown that hearing aids play a significant factor in a person's social, emotional, psychological and physical well-being.
  
  More specifically, treatment of hearing loss has been shown to improve:
  - Communication in relationships - Intimacy and warmth in family relationships - Ease in communication - Earning power - Sense of control over your life - Social participation - Perception of mental functioning - Emotional stability
  
  When you consider all the benefits of better hearing, you can see that hearing aids hold great potential to positively change your life.
  Source: www.betterhearing.org
   
• How do hearing aids work?
  
  At their most basic, hearing aids are microphones that convert sound into electrical signals. An amplifier increases the strength of the signal, then a receiver converts it back to sound and channels it into the ear canal through a small tube or earmold. A battery is necessary to power the hearing aid and to enable amplification. Audibel's hearing aids are sophisticated, state-of-the-art instruments that require computer programming to adjust to your specific lifestyle and listening environments.
   
• Will a hearing aid restore my hearing?
  
  While no hearing aid can restore your hearing to normal (except in cases of very mild hearing loss), Audibel hearing aids are designed to let you hear soft sounds that you couldn't hear before, and prevent loud sounds from becoming uncomfortably loud for you. They are also designed to improve your ability to understand speech, even in noisy environments.
   
• Will I be able to hear in noisy places?
  
  While no hearing aid can filter out all background noise, Audibel hearing aids are designed to reduce some types of background noise so that you can enjoy conversation and improve communication in places like restaurants, business meetings and social gatherings.
   
• What are the different types and styles of hearing aids?
  
  Today's digital hearing aids come in a wide variety of sizes and style — from those that sit behind the ear to completely — and feature different technology levels to match your specific needs and budget.
   
• How do I know which hearing aid will be best for me?
  
  There are several factors that will determine which hearing aid will be the right one for you. They include the nature and severity of your hearing loss, your lifestyle and the activities you regularly enjoy, your job, your eyesight and dexterity, and the size and shape of your outer ear and inner ear canal. Ultimately, your hearing professional will be able to advise you as to the best choice for you.
   
• What are some advances in hearing aid technology?
  
  Like many other high-tech devices (TVs, phones, computers), hearing aids have experienced a major technological revolution in the past decade and especially in the last couple years.
  
  The best of today's digital hearing aids are designed to virtually eliminate feedback; make listening in noisy environments easier and more comfortable; stream stereo sound from TVs and radios directly to the hearing aid itself; and much more. All in instruments that are smaller (in some cases, invisible) and more comfortable and powerful than ever before.
   
• Is there an adjustment period to wearing hearing aids?
  
  Yes. Most people need an adjustment period of up to four months before becoming acclimated to — and receiving the full benefit of — wearing their hearing aids. However, you should expect to notice demonstrable benefits right away.
   
• Will I need a hearing aid for both ears?
  
  Two-ear hearing (called "binaural") is better than one. If you have hearing loss in only one ear, you may be fine with one hearing aid. Age- and noise-related hearing loss tend to affect both ears, but your hearing profile for each ear is probably different. If there is a loss in both ears, you will probably benefit more with a binaural solution. Today, about two-thirds of new users opt for dual hearing aids, and as a group they report a higher level of satisfaction than purchasers of a single hearing aid.
   
• How much will a hearing aid cost?
  
  The price of a hearing aid will vary depending on the specific model and features you need, and how effective it is in various noise environments. Whatever the final cost, most hearing professionals do offer. You should also check to see if you qualify for free hearing aids or discounted hearing aids from your employer, union, the Veteran's Administration, insurance provider, HMO or local charity (such as Lions Club).
   
• Are $100 hearing aids any good?
  
  These inexpensive models are simply hearing amplifiers that will make everything louder (including all the ambient noises around you). They will not, for example, separate human voices from background noises, or hear directional sounds like today's more sophisticated hearing aids are designed to do.
   
• Is there a guarantee with hearing aids?
  
  Yes. In fact it was that first introduced the 30-day money-back guarantee, which is now industry standard. But it is important to give yourself a reasonable chance to adjust to your hearing aid.
   

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