Hearing Loss

South Lake Ears Nose and Throat, Hearing and Tinnitus Center can help if it's getting harder for you to hear or if voices seem more garbled than usual. Led by Stan Phillips, MD, from the office in Huntersville, North Carolina, the team can diagnose your hearing loss and offer effective solutions. Its very important to remember that hearing loss can lead to Alzheimers disease. Monitoring your hearing is now more important than ever! Call the office or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about hearing loss testing and treatment.

What is hearing loss?

Hearing loss describes a gradual or sudden decrease in your ability to hear. This condition can vary in severity and be either temporary or permanent.

There are several causes of hearing loss, including:

• Being born deaf or having congenital hearing loss
• Structural damage inside your inner ear from loud noises
• Changes within your inner ear due to the aging process
• Damage to your ear, like a ruptured eardrum

You can also experience hearing loss because of wax buildup or objects in your ear, infections, or other middle or inner ear conditions.

What are the symptoms of hearing loss?

Common signs and symptoms of hearing loss include:

• Listening to the radio or TV at higher volumes than usual
• Feeling as if sounds are muffled, or your ears are plugged
• Difficulty understanding people, especially when background noise is present
• Buzzing, ringing, or roaring sounds in your ear

You may also feel that your surroundings are spinning or experience pain, irritation, or fluid drainage from your ear.

How is hearing loss diagnosed?

During your appointment, the South Lake Ears Nose and Throat, Hearing and Tinnitus Center team reviews your symptoms and medical history while performing a comprehensive medical exam.

Based on their assessment, the team might also conduct hearing tests and audiometry exams to evaluate the extent and severity of your condition. South Lake Ears Nose and Throat, Hearing and Tinnitus Center offers cutting-edge hearing test equipment, including an audio booth designed by Tony Bongiovi.  Audiometry exams not only measure your ability to hear the intensity and tone of sounds but also look for other symptoms of inner ear disorders, like balance issues.

How is hearing loss treated?

The team works with you to outline the best course of treatment based on the severity of your hearing loss and its cause. If you’re suffering from hearing loss because of an infection or wax buildup, they can work with you to resolve these issues with medications or wax removal.

For hearing loss associated with age or noise, the Harvard and Johns Hopkins trained specialists might recommend therapies like hearing aids. In addition to hearing aids, they might also offer suggestions to help you manage your condition, such as supportive devices that alert you to sounds in your house like the doorbell.

For more information on hearing loss in adults and children, call South Lake Ears Nose and Throat, Hearing and Tinnitus Center or schedule an appointment online today.