Can you restore your lost hearing?

Hearing and Hearing Loss

 

Hearing is a key sense. One on which we rely on for safety, socialisation, learning and work, a sense of community and for recreation. It’s important to maintain your hearing.

What is hearing loss? Can your hearing be restored, or once it’s damaged have you lost it for good? Because hearing is so important, whether there is a cure for loss of hearing is a very common question.

The following describes why we get hearing loss and how it can be resolved.

 

The Hearing Pathway

 

There are a number of parts to the hearing pathway to consider when thinking about what counts as a hearing loss and what counts as a permanent hearing loss. We have our outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear.

 

The importance of a test

 

It’s important to fully test the hearing pathway because of all the parts to diagnose where the hearing loss is coming from. Depending on where the hearing loss is coming from will tell the audiologist if it can be treated or not.

 

Types of More Temporary Hearing Losses

 

You can have types of hearing loss which can be quite temporary – maybe relating to a buildup of wax or debris like excess skin cell growth, or a buildup of pressure of fluid behind the ear drums. Commonly, if the trouble is buildup, it can be removed by an audiologist.

There are also types of hearing loss which can be hereditary.  run in families. Sometimes the bones that help the eardrum to function start to calcify. In some instances, this type of hearing loss can be assisted with surgery.

 

As another type of hearing loss, if there’s a build-up of pressure or fluid behind the eardrum, an ENT specialist could surgically insert an equalising tube – a grommet - in the eardrum.

 

Permanent Hearing Loss

 

For most adults however, a hearing loss tends to come from a part further on in the hearing pathway – the inner ear. This kind of hearing loss is usually permanent. In these more permanent hearing loss cases, technology is our go-to to help with hearing loss.

 

Hearing Aids

 

A hearing aid is a very discreet piece of technology that sits in the ear to amplify the surrounding noise to help the individual hear more clearly. A hearing aid should be chosen with the person’s needs in mind – not only their hearing needs, but maybe their preference for the look of the hearing device and their comfort levels with wearing a device.

 

Hearing aids can be set up to capture it all, or be a bit more selective in what gets turned up in the person’s listening environment. They are also specifically adjusted for a wearer, so that the pitches they’re having difficulty with are amplified.

 

Hearing aids not only help with offering assistance for a hearing loss, but there’s also research to suggest they assist with lessening the chance of falls, promoting more socialisation and cognitive health.

 

Cochlear Implant

 

Another option for some, in terms of helping hearing loss with technology, is a cochlear implant. It is a surgical implant, which works by bypassing the damaged cochlea (a part of the inner ear system), stimulating the nerves that send impulses to the brain, where we process sound.

 

If you or someone you know has a hearing loss

 

If you think you have a hearing loss, the best thing to do is have a full diagnostic test. Attune Hearing have many specialists and services to assist you and your loved ones with their hearing loss needs. Contact Attune to book and appointment.