The best hearing healthcare in Louisiana.
Hearing Loss
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What Causes Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss isn’t the complete absence of sound, but rather when sounds seem muffled or unclear. This can occur in both ears or only one and can happen at any stage in life. The most common causes of hearing loss include:
- Congenital issues
- Age
- Prolonged exposure to loud noise
- Ear infection
- Physical obstruction
- Ototoxic medications
- Underlying health conditions (i.e., heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure)
Hearing and Brain Health
Our hearing plays a key role in cognitive ability. When left untreated, hearing loss can have a negative affect on speech comprehension, memory, and brain health. The brain relies on our hearing to hear and process sounds. When you can’t hear well due to hearing loss, your brain will work harder to understand the little it can hear. This may lead to missing parts of the conversation and frequently asking people to repeat themselves. Over time many people begin to withdraw from social situations because they are embarrassed.
It’s important to manage hearing loss at the first signs to practice good hearing health and brain function. Hearing aids are a great way to promote healthy hearing as they will provide your brain with the proper sound signals to hear and understand.
Signs of Hearing Loss
One of the most common causes of hearing loss is age. As we get older, the hair cells in the inner ear (responsible for hearing) begin to naturally deteriorate. This happens gradually, making changes in hearing difficult to notice at first. If you have noticed any combination of the following, then you should have your hearing checked.
- Voices seem muffled
- You can hear but you lack clarity
- You frequently ask people to repeat themselves
- You often respond with “What?” or “Huh?”
- Women and children’s voices sound too soft
- It’s harder to hear when there is background noise (i.e., in a restaurant)
- You avoid social gatherings
Types of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is categorized by degree and type. The degrees of loss range from mild, moderate, moderately severe, to profound. In addition, there are three main types of hearing loss: sensorineural, conductive, and mixed.
Sensorineural hearing loss
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the hair cells in the inner ear or to the hearing nerve. This type of loss is permanent and is often the result of age, genetics, ototoxic medications, loud noise exposure, or another disease. Sensorineural hearing loss can be successfully managed with hearing aids.
Conductive hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss is caused by an obstruction somewhere along the hearing pathway, preventing sound from going from the outer/middle ear to the inner ear. Causes of this type of loss include earwax impaction, fluid in the middle ear, perforated eardrum, ear infection, or abnormal bone growth in the middle ear. Conductive hearing loss will need to be cleared by a physician or medical doctor.
Mixed hearing loss
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.
Office Location
801 Veterans Memorial Blvd Suite D,
Metairie, LA 70005
Phone: (504) 252 4880
Fax: (504) 272 0351
Monday – Friday: 9:00AM–5:00PM
Saturday & Sunday: by appointment only.
