Can Hearing be Restored?

With almost 50 million Americans experiencing some sort of hearing loss, most people have some experience conditions like this. Even if you don’t have hearing loss yourself, it’s likely that you’ve interacted with people who do and will have seen the frustration that it can cause. 

There are many tools on the market that can work to overcome the problem of hearing loss, but is it possible to reverse it all together? Let’s take a look at the different types of hearing loss and how an audiologist can support you to overcome them.

The types of hearing loss

There are three main types of hearing loss commonly found in patients. The way that hearing restoration is approached with each of these types is different, with each example being caused by its own factors. This makes it crucial that you speak to a professional audiologist before you start using treatments for problems like hearing loss, as you could easily find yourself trying to combat the wrong issue if you don’t have the right expertise.

Sensorineural hearing loss

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the tiny hairs or nerves inside your ears are damaged. This can be caused by a variety of different factors, though exposure to loud noises is one of the most likely, especially with more and more people wearing headphones in their day to day life.

Restoring sensorineural hearing loss

Unfortunately, the damage caused to your cilia will always be permanent, and you won’t be able to recover from hearing loss like this without the help of some technology. Hearing aids can be used to treat hearing loss, though a cochlear implant could also be successful in the right circumstances. Extreme examples of sensorineural hearing loss can be impossible to restore, making it well worth working hard to keep yourself from loud noises.

Conductive hearing loss

While less common than sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss can be just as easy to find yourself experiencing. This condition occurs when there is a blockage or other issue that is preventing sound from being conducted to the nerves inside your ear. Causes for this can range from wax blockages to damage to your outer ear, but the nerves inside your ear will always be intact with an issue like this.

Restoring conductive hearing loss

Restoring conductive hearing loss can be a simple process in some cases. Removing earwax blockages isn’t too challenging, and this can be done by most audiologists during your visit. Issues like infections and growths can also cause blockages like this, with tools like antibiotics being used to overcome them. Hearing aids are less common with this type of hearing loss but can be used in some cases to make improvements.

Mixed hearing loss

Conditions like hearing loss are never simple, and it’s quite common to find people experiencing both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. This is known as mixed hearing loss. With your ears being so complex, it’s easy for more than one factor to impact them, with many people damaging their ears through their lifestyle.

Restoring mixed hearing loss

Restoring mixed hearing loss will usually involve using a combination of treatments. For example, a cochlear implant may be used to combat sensorineural hearing loss, while surgery could be performed to remove a growth from inside your ear. Skilled audiologists will be able to offer treatments that provide the best results without putting you through hell in the process.

Preventing hearing loss

While it can often be possible to restore hearing loss when it is caught early, there are a lot of cases that don’t have such a happy ending. The best way to avoid finding yourself in this position is by working to prevent hearing loss in the first place. Avoiding loud noises and keeping your ears clean can help, but it will also be a good idea to see a professional audiologist if you ever notice your hearing degrading. It doesn’t take much to solve a problem like this when you’re willing to take the right steps.

Here at Hinderliter Hearing Services, we work extremely hard to make sure that our patients are looked after. Whether you’ve been experiencing hearing loss for a long time or have only just started to notice this change, our dedicated team will be happy to give you all of the time you need to improve your hearing. Even when hearing loss can’t be restored, there are often tools that can make a difference. Call us today at 248-430-8425 to find out more.