Can Hearing Loss Be Restored?

If you have hearing loss, you may be wondering what you can do about it. Can it be restored? Will you ever be able to hear your favorite song again? While you may be tempted to try a handful of home remedies, these typically do not help restore your hearing, and some may even make it worse. Hearing loss that is caused by treatable conditions, such as earwax impactions or ear infections, can typically be restored once the health issue is addressed. Audiologists have developed many aids and techniques to assist you, and there may be some scope to restore or regain what you have lost. However, how hearing loss is to be restored depends on the type of hearing loss you have. 

There are three main types of hearing loss: 

Sensorineural 

This is usually permanent loss of hearing caused by damage to the auditory nerve or cilia, which are the tiny hairs inside the ears which vibrate to induce hearing. Once they are gone, they are gone forever. Sensorineural is means that you cannot restore natural hearing because of the type of damage is irreversible. However, that is by no means the end of the road. In this scenario, it may not be reversible naturally but we may be able to restore hearing via the use of hearing aids or a cochlear implant. If the hearing loss you have is sudden onset sensorineural hearing loss, this is actually reversible. What happens here is that we would normally treat you with a course of corticosteroid tablets or injections. Obviously, though, this needs to be done quickly, so as soon as you develop the hearing loss, contact an audiologist.

Conductive

This is where the hearing loss is attributed to some kind of blockage or an obstruction inside the ear. Due to the fact that there is no permanent damage to the auditory nerve, or outer or inner ear, the sound is still being conducted, you just can’t hear it. This means that restoring the hearing is therefore possible. The most likely cause of conductive hearing loss is that there is a significant case of earwax build-up. This can go on for years, but the solution is simple. It can be syringed out. Even in severe cases hearing can be fully restored. Imagine how happy you would be if you issue is this easy to resolve. Other forms of conductive hearing loss include: 

• A very narrow ear canal. In this case, accompanying ear infections may make things worse. An operation can be performed to widen the ear canal and enable the patient to hear better and prevent further infections.
• There is a condition known as exostosis where an abnormal, but usually benign, growth grows around the ears. Or there is an increase in the thickness of the bones surrounding your ears and this may be causing the hearing loss. In either case, it can be resolved to restore heating. This is common in older people, and again, in this case, an operation can be performed to fix the problem.
• Another common cause of this type of hearing loss is that you may have a break in one or more of the bones and connections in the middle ear. This is known as ossicular chain discontinuity. In this case again, a small operation should resolve the issue.

Mixed

This is basically where you have both of the above forms of hearing loss at the same time. For example, treating severe earwax build-up will give you a better idea of how much damage there is to your actual hearing, and, therefore, what solution will be best for you.

There are many remedies and resolutions to restore hearing loss, and if not restore, then regain hearing in some way. But the onus is on you. What you need to do if you find you are beginning to develop hearing loss is:

• You need to admit it to yourself. There is no point in isolating yourself and pretending it is not happening.
• Speak to an audiologist. Your hearing loss could be simply earwax, so why let it go on for years when it can be easily resolved.
• Make follow up appointment and do not fear an operation, your life will improve if you get this condition resolved in one way or another.

Okay, so you want your hearing fixed. Please contact Physicians Hearing Center now. Call at (334) 441-4090. Perhaps you will be able to hear your grand-daughters performance after all.