- Many patients are referred to an “Ear, Nose, and Throat” (“ENT”) physician for Hearing Loss
- A good history and physician examination as well as hearing testing should clarify the diagnosis
- There are three general types of hearing loss—
- Sensory-Neural: the inner-ear sensory organ or the nervous system is faulty
- Conductive: a blockage preventing sound from correctly stimulating the inner ear
- A mix of both of the above
- Sensory-Neural hearing loss can result from aging, excessive noise exposure, family genetics, illnesses, toxic exposures and traumatic injuries among other reasons
- A Sensory-neural hearing loss is almost always treated with hearing aids
- Conductive problems might be as simple as wax or as complex as a hardening of the joints of the hearing bones. An “ENT” specialist is required to make this diagnosis
- Conductive problems in theory — and often in practice — can be corrected with medical or surgical care by an “ENT” physician
- Conductive problems can be treated with hearing aids if that is what the patient desires: Hearing Aids are always a safe option for avoiding surgical complications
- In the elderly, untreated hearing loss can lead to isolation and earlier dementia
- People who suffer from untreated hearing loss have lower quality of life
Ear, Nose, and Throat – Physician and Surgeon