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Understanding Hearing Loss
Answers to FAQs about Hearing Problems, Audiology, and Hearing Aids
At Los Gatos Audiology and Hearing Aid Center, we are asked numerous questions about audiology. Below are the answers to some of the common questions we receive.
What is an audiologist? Why should I see one?
An audiologist is a healthcare professional who evaluates, diagnoses, and treats hearing disorders, impairments, and conditions. An audiologist holds a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited university, has received special training in assessing, identifying, and treating hearing disorders, has completed a full-time internship, and has passed a challenging national competency examination. In California, an audiologist must also be licensed by the Speech Language Pathology Audiology Board. A licensed audiologist can select, fit, and dispense amplification systems such as hearing aids and related devices. An audiologist also works to prevent hearing loss by educating people about preventative measures with which they may be able to avoid hearing loss. Audiologists are the most qualified professionals to perform audiological services by virtue of their education, certification, and experience.
What are some of the causes of hearing loss?
Hearing loss can occur due to reasons such as:
• Genes: Medical researchers place genetics as the cause for over half the known cases of hearing loss.
• Exposure to loud, sudden, or sustained noise: Hearing loss as a result of exposure to loud, sudden, or sustained noises may develop over many years. The harm noise can cause is dependent on the volume, frequency, and length of the sound. Noise from high-volume music, power tools, vehicles, lawn mowers, and even noise encountered on the job can all be harmful to you over time.
• Otosclerosis: Otosclerosis is a condition of the middle ear that degenerates hearing gradually over time. The condition causes a hardening of the bones of the middle ear, usually the stapes bone. Unlike many other causes of hearing loss, the hearing loss from otosclerosis may be improved with surgery.
• Ototoxic medications: Medication used to treat certain medical conditions can have the side-effect of causing hearing loss.
•Aging: Hearing loss affects some adults as they age. The most common type of degeneration is sensorineural or inner ear loss that reduces higher frequency hearing. Changes can also occur in the neural pathways to the brain.
•Ear or head injuries: Because many parts of the ear are very delicate, hearing loss may result from an injury to the ear or head.
•Meniere's disease: Meniere's disease is a debilitating disease that causes sufferers to experience severe vertigo and imbalance, fluctuating hearing loss, and tinnitus or ringing in the ear. While vertigo is the most severe symptom of Meniere's disease, it can be accompanied by permanent hearing loss.
•Sudden hearing loss: The origin may be unknown, but it is usually thought to be caused by a virus or an auto-immune disease.
To discuss or learn more about any of these causes of hearing loss, please contact the Los Gatos Audiology and Hearing Aid Center today.
How do I find out if I have if I am experiencing hearing loss?
Do you:
• Misunderstand conversations?
• Ask people to repeat certain words?
• Avoid social situations where you find it hard to hear?
• Turn up the TV or radio so loud that it annoys others?
• Have ringing, roaring, or buzzing in your ears?
• Think people mumble?
• Hear better in one ear than the other?
• Find women's and children's voices difficult to hear?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may be experiencing hearing loss. Audiologist Ellen Mosher can perform comprehensive hearing testing to assess your ability to hear and process sounds of different volumes and frequencies. By producing an audiogram based on your results, Ellen will be able to tell you the severity and type of hearing loss you may be experiencing.
To schedule an appointment to undergo audiological testing, please contact the office today.
What types of hearing aids are there? How do they work?
All hearing aids are now digital. A digital hearing aid converts an analog signal into a digital one, allowing the aid's signal processor to manipulate the signal in sophisticated ways and ultimately optimize the sound. Modified digital signals are converted back to analog signals and then transmitted into the ear. Digital hearing aids can recognize the differences between speech and non-speech signals, thereby processing them differently.
The digitization of the analog signal allows the processor to analyze and filter the signal to improve speech intelligibility in all situations. Speech, noise, music, and impact noises such as door slamming and clanging silverware are processed differently. The goal is to help you hear speech in all listening environments, even challenging ones. Hearing aids with the most sophisticated chipset allow for maximum noise reduction available and the maximum speech enhancement.
If you would like to speak with audiologist Ellen Mosher about getting fitted for a hearing aid, please contact the Los Gatos Audiology and Hearing Aid Center today.
How will I know what type of technology and style of hearing aid is best for me?
The audiogram records your type and degree of hearing loss. The type and degree of hearing loss determines which technology and style of hearing aid is optimal for your hearing loss and listening environments. To meet with Ellen to discuss the possibility of wearing hearing aids, please contact her office today.
How do I prevent hearing loss?
One of the most important steps to preventing hearing loss is being aware of the noise levels around you. By avoiding loud noise levels, such as sound made by machines, power tools, loud music, and loud vehicles, you can avoid the most common cause of hearing loss. Wearing hearing protection such as earplugs, earmuffs, and protective headphones can also protect your ears from hearing loss. To learn more about how you can prevent hearing loss, please contact us at Los Gatos Audiology and Hearing Aid Center today.
Los Gatos Audiology & Hearing Aid Center
430 Monterey Ave. Ste. 3
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408.354.1312
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How we can help you.
If you think that you may be experiencing a hearing impairment, please contact our office to schedule an appointment.
DO YOU...
Misunderstand conversations?
Ask people to repeat certain words?
Avoid social situations where you find it hard to hear?
Turn up the TV or radio so loud that it annoys others?
Have ringing, roaring, or buzzing in your ears?
Think people mumble?
Hear better in one ear than the other?
Find women's and childrens voices difficult to hear?
A "yes" answer to any of the above questions may mean you have a hearing problem.
If you answer "yes" to several questions, we strongly suggest you have your hearing checked to determine if you can benefit from wearing a hearing aid.
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Karen - Hearing Assisted Patient
