As people get older, their senses change and they may not see, feel, taste, smell, or hear as well as they used to. Hearing loss can be caused by many problems, aging being one of them. Here are some of the causes of hearing loss and how they can be treated.
Conductive Hearing Loss
This type of hearing loss can happen at any age, including infancy. It is caused by problems within the ear canal, with the ear drum, or with the middle ear and the bones within it. Hearing tests in Knoxville, TN, can determine the extent of the hearing loss and help doctors decide how to help their patients regain some of their hearing.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss involves problems with the inner ear, which means it is nerve-related hearing loss. There can be many causes, including head trauma, illnesses, genetic factors, aging, and continuous exposure to loud noises. If this type of hearing loss is a result of your job, hearing tests may be conducted to determine the extent of the loss when seeking compensation from an employer.
Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. In some instances, hearing loss can be improved by treating the conductive components first. However, companies such as Audiolife Hearing can also conduct hearing tests to determine if a hearing aid will help improve the hearing of someone suffering from this type of hearing loss.
In some cases, a hearing aid may not be able to help patients improve their hearing. If the bones are damaged or the nerve has been severely injured, they may no longer function well enough to allow for hearing improvements. Fortunately, there may be treatments to help people regain their hearing abilities, including surgical solutions to repair damage to the ear or remove a tumor, or medications to treat recurring inner ear infections.
