Whom To Consult For Hearing Losses?

We are often confused whom to consult for Hearing Losses? We at Melody Audiology being the leading Hearing Treatment Center in Edmonton, Alberta in this blog would try to make you aware about the basic types of hearing losses and when to consult professionals suspecing you may be suffering from hearing loss.

Various Types of Hearing Losses

Hearing Loss is the inability to hear partially or totally in one or both. Generally in terms of frequency the human ear should hear between 20 to 20000 hertz. The threshold or at least hearing ability of a person is over 25 dB (decibel). If one is not able to hear even if the decibel level of the sound is above this minimum threshold then it could be considered as Hearing Loss or Hearing Impairment. In terms of degree the hearing loss may be mild, severe or profound. The hearing loss type is generally identified by which part of the ear the hearing problem is occurring in. They may be 3 broad types of Hearing Loss based on this, which are as follows:

Conductive Hearing Loss: This type of hearing loss is on account of problem in the middle or outer ear. Such problems are normally curable with medication or by means of using proper hearing aids stores.

 

Sensoineural Hearing is on account of problems in the inner or auditory nerve related disorders. Though this permanent problem, but restoration of hearing even in these cases is possible with help of hearing aid device or others such devices.

Mixed Hearing Loss: A combination of conductive and Sensorineural hearing loss is termed as mixed hearing loss. Hearing Aids and other hearing Aid Devices may help in rectifying such types of Hearing Loss.

Choosing Professionals Who Treat Hearing Loss: Often we may get confused in regard to whom to consult for treatment of Hearing Loss. There are Audiologists and ENT Specialists. The general physician or an ENT Specialist may prescribe to treat infections or other conditions like ear infections, dizziness, removal of ear wax, etc. However from there you could be referred to an audiologist. An ENT Specialist on the other hand generally sees a patient when it is beyond the scope of a General Physician. He or she prescribes medication but does not perform audiology or hearing evaluations. This type of Hearing Tests are conducted by the audiologists. The Audiologists conducts various types of Hearing Tests to determine the nature and degree of the hearing loss or hearing impairment.

These tests may be Pure Tone Testing, Tympanometry, Pure Tone Tone Audiometry, Tests of the Middle Ear, Audiotory Brain Stem Response (ABR), Otoacoustic Emmissions (OAEs), etc. The tests may be conducted by the Audiologists and the results from these tests are used by the ENT Specialists to determine the treatment for the type and degree of Hearing Losses. He may recommend whether the hearing loss is treatable by medication or through surgery. In many cases hearing aids may be recommended for correction of the hearing Loss. It is advisable that you must consult an audiologist to select the right kind of Hearing Aid based on your type and degree of Hearing Loss.

We at https://melodyaudiology.com/ are experts in the treatment of hearing loss in Edmonton, Alberta. For further information about hearing loss treatment please visit us.