subject: A Hearing Center Can Help You Combat Auditory Loss [print this page] Auditory impairment happens in all age groupsAuditory impairment happens in all age groups. Older adults are prone to age related impairment. Even children get screened as newborns and preschoolers. Young adults and teens may suffer a loss from loud music or from an injury. A hearing center can evaluate your impairment and determine if it is permanent.
If you have a conductive loss, you may have a foreign object in your ear, or an earwax buildup. This type of impairment may be repaired or get better. For instance, if a child has a hard time hearing because of an ear infection, treating the infection will improve the child's hearing. If an adult has a buildup of earwax then removing the buildup would repair the problem. If you suffer a permanent impairment, you cannot repair the loss of sound perception.
A sensorineural loss is permanent. Being struck in the ear or some other trauma could cause this. Maybe you are a musician and too cool for earplugs, or perhaps you are a construction worker or farmer working with loud machinery all day. Exposure to noise trauma may also be the cause. Permanent loss could also be congenital.
When a patient finds that they have auditory impairment they must make a decision. Do you want to live with the impairment or get a device to help make it better? Some people do indeed choose to do nothing though they are aware of the problem. Others may choose a hearing aid.
A cochlear implant is another option. This is an invasive option, and not everyone is a candidate. An implant is discreet but still not the same as natural sound perception. If you choose to go this route on a small child, the best results are before the age of two. Another option is in-the-canal aids. They fit completely in the ear canal and are more discreet than typical aid devices. Full and half shell aids are another model. These are small and somewhat discreet but still visible. Another option, and probably the one you think of when you think hearing aid, is the behind the ear option. Though it is larger and not so discreet it has a few things on its side. It is good for children and adults alike, and it is cost effective.
There are so many options that it can be overwhelming. A hearing center can go over these options in more detail. They can even give you a free exam in some cases. Most importantly, one of these centers can find a solution to meet your individual needs based on lifestyle, severity of loss, and budget.
