At Lahey Hospital & Medical Center’s Hearing Aid Center, we know that hearing loss can impact every part of your life – such as communicating on the phone, interacting with others and being productive at work – and this can be devastating.
At Lahey Hospital & Medical Center’s Hearing Aid Center, we know that hearing loss can impact every part of your life – such as communicating on the phone, interacting with others and being productive at work – and this can be devastating.
Hearing loss is most common among older adults, but it can occur at any age. Because Lahey offers medical care as well as audiology, you will have access to a wide range of solutions that best fit your needs.
Types of Hearing Loss
There are three main types of hearing loss:
- Conductive hearing loss – This is caused by a problem in the outer or middle ear. Impacted earwax, eardrum perforations, middle ear infections, or problems with middle ear bones can all cause conductive hearing loss. This type of hearing loss can be treated medically or surgically.
- Sensorineural hearing loss – This is the type of loss we associate with aging, but it also can be caused by inherited conditions or by prolonged exposure to loud noise. It is the most common type of hearing impairment and is usually the result of damage to the sensory cells and/or nerve fibers within the inner ear. A hearing aid is usually the most effective treatment.
- Mixed hearing loss – This is a condition in which both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss are present. A medical exam can determine the best treatment options.
Is Your Hearing Impaired?
One way to determine if your hearing is impaired is to take the following brief quiz, compiled by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the National Institutes of Health:
- Do you have a problem hearing over the telephone?
- Do you have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time?
- Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high?
- Do you have to strain to understand conversation?
- Do you have trouble hearing in a noisy background?
- Do you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves?
- Do many people you talk to seem to mumble (or not speak clearly)?
- Do you misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?
- Do you have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?
- Do people get annoyed because you misunderstand what they say?
If you answered yes to three or more questions, you may want to have a hearing evaluation. This can be scheduled through your primary care physician. Alternatively, to make an appointment directly with a Lahey Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat specialist physician), please call 781-744-8467.
Helpful Links
For additional information on hearing loss and its treatments, the Audiologists at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center recommend the following websites:
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)