Atlanta Hearing Loss Blog

The treatment for hearing loss depends upon the cause of the loss of hearing. There are some types of hearing loss which may be temporary or reversible; other types of hearing loss are permanent and cannot be cured. Regardless, getting help from an Atlanta hearing loss treatment provider can certainly make communication easier. It can also help to make work and daily activities more enjoyable.

Temporary Atlanta Hearing Loss Causes and Treatments

When hearing loss is reversible, it can be successfully treated. Here are a few of the possible causes of this type of hearing loss:

• Some medicines, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can cause temporary hearing loss. Hearing returns once you stop taking the medicine.
• Ear infections can cause hearing loss. Most ear infections can clear up on their own; however, some do require antibiotics. An Atlanta hearing loss treatment center can assist in diagnosing this issue.
• Excessive ear wax has been known to cause hearing loss in some people. You should not try to remove this ear wax yourself; instead, have a professional at an Atlanta hearing loss treatment center do this for you.
• Some head injuries or ear injuries can cause temporary hearing loss. Hearing may return on its own or surgery may be required.
• Certain diseases, such as Meniere’s disease, otosclerosis, and acoutistic neuroma can bring on hearing loss. With medicine, hearing can return.
• Autoimmune problems can cause hearing loss. Corticosteroid medicines, such as prednisone, can help to return the hearing.

Atlanta Hearing Loss Treatments for Permanent Hearing Loss

Age-related or other permanent causes of hearing loss cannot be reversed. Instead, these types of hearing loss must be treated through methods which help people to have improved hearing and communication. There are no devices or procedures which can completely restore hearing in people who have permanent hearing loss; however, some devices can greatly increase a person’s quality of life. These include the following:

• Hearing aids: There are many types and styles of hearing aids. An Atlanta hearing loss treatment center can help select one which is best for a certain type of hearing loss. Hearing aids amplify sounds in order to allow for easier communication and functioning in everyday life.
• Assisted listening devices: Like hearing aids, these devices amplify sounds; however, these are single-purpose devices that bring the sounds of a particular instrument to the ear. Telephone amplifiers boost the sound of the telephone. Television, stereo, and radio devices increase the sounds of those instruments.
• Alerting devices: These devices use loud, specific sounds and/or lights and vibrations in order to alert you to a particular sound. Alerting devices are commonly used with doorbells, telephones, and baby monitors.
• Television closed captioning: This allows people with hearing loss to more easily watch television because the spoken words are shown at the bottom of the television screen.

There are other hearing devices that can be used. An Atlanta hearing loss treatment provider can assist you in determining which ones will be the most helpful and useful for you.

When you visit an Atlanta hearing aid provider such as Atlanta Hearing Associates, you will need to make a decision about the type of hearing aid which will be best for you. Your audiologist will assist you in making this decision, of course, but it can be helpful to know about your options ahead of time.

There are many brand names and several styles of Atlanta hearing aids available; however, there is one general rule to keep in mind when making a selection: The smaller a hearing aid is, the more likely it is that it will cost more, have a shorter battery life, and be less powerful.

Atlanta Hearing Aid

Common Atlanta Hearing Aid Styles

All types of hearing aids work to carry sounds from the environment into your ear. There are, however, a few different styles from which you and your audiologist can choose:

• Completely in-the-canal hearing aid: This Atlanta hearing aid is custom molded to fit inside your ear canal and is considered to be the least noticeable style of hearing aid. This model does not, however, contain volume control or any other extra features. This style is not likely to pick up wind noise because the ear provides protection to the hearing aid.
• In-the-canal hearing aid: This model is also custom molded; however, it fits only partly inside the ear canal. Because of this, in-the-canal Atlanta hearing aids are able to include volume control or other features—although these features may be somewhat difficult to adjust due to the small size of the hearing aid. This style of hearing aid is not easily visible in the ear, which many users prefer.
• Half-shell hearing aid: Also custom molded, this style of hearing aid fits around the lower part of the bowl-shaped area of the outer ear. This hearing aid model is bigger than in-canal aids, but this allows it to include easy-to-control features like volume control and microphones.
• In-the-ear full-shell hearing aid: This type of hearing aid is custom made to fit the bowl-shaped area of the outer ear. Easy-to-adjust features are typically included on this style of Atlanta hearing aid. This style also uses larger, long-lasting batteries. But, full-shell aids are likely to pick up wind noise, which many users find irritating.
• Behind-the-ear hearing aid: This style hooks over the top of your ear and rests behind the earlobe. Sound is picked up and carried to an ear mold that fits inside the ear canal. This type of Atlanta hearing aid used to be the most visible type of hearing aid; however, newer versions are more streamlined and less visible. Many audiologists believe that this is the most effective type of hearing aid.
• Open fit hearing aid: This style of Atlanta hearing aid is very small and fits behind the ear. Sound travels through a small wire or tube into a speaker in the ear canal. This model does not have any extra features, and it is only suggested for use in people with mild to moderate hearing loss.

If you are experiencing hearing loss of any degree, you already know that it is important to get an examination from an Atlanta audiologist. But, if you have never been to an audiologist before, chances are you may be wondering exactly what the appointment will be like. You might be wondering what the audiologist will do and how the examination will go…and you might be a bit nervous. Well, in order to calm your nerves, read on to find out what happens during a typical visit to an Atlanta audiologist.

Your Case History

Before any examination begins, a case history will be taken. The audiologist needs to know about your medical background and health history because this helps him to determine possible causes of your hearing loss. It may also help him to make medical referrals, if necessary.

When taking your case history, the Atlanta audiologist will ask about your hearing and your history of hearing loss. He will also ask about your past exposure to noise, such as whether you have attended loud rock concerts or whether you frequently work around noisy power tools. He will also inquire about related issues like tinnitus, dizziness, past ear infections, and other medical conditions you may have.

Before beginning any testing, the audiologist will take a look at your ears with an otoscope. This is a tool with which he can look down into your ear canal to check for wax or other blockage. It is likely that you have seen this tool in your general practice doctor’s office, as most doctors use an otoscope during regular examinations.

Tympanometry Testing

Your Atlanta audiologist will likely move on to a tympanometry test next. This is a test of the functioning of your middle ear.

During this test, the audiologist will insert a small probe into the ear. You will feel a slight bit of pressure, but the probe is not painful at all. You may also hear some loud beeps. The tympanometry test will measure how well your eardrum moves in response to slight pressure. When doing this test, your audiologist is looking for anything that is prohibiting the moving of the eardrum, such as an infection, fluid, or any other disfunction.

Audiometry Testing

Next, your Atlanta audiologist will perform audiometry testing. For this test, he will have you sit in a soundproof room or booth and wear earphones. You will be instructed to raise your hand or press a button when you hear a sound. The purpose of this is to determine the softest sound that you can hear with earphones at several different pitches.

The same test will be repeated, but without the earphones; instead, a bone vibrator is placed behind your ear. The purpose of this test is to determine your softest sound hearing when stimulating the inner ear directly.

Evaluation

The information from these tests is used to determine the type of your hearing loss. Your Atlanta audiologist will also be able to determine the degree of your hearing loss.

Following these tests, you will be given recommendations as to what you can do in order to manage your hearing loss.

At Atlanta Hearing Associates, there is a desire to make sure that those looking for hearing aids in Atlanta gain not only enhanced hearing, but a better way of life. If you are looking for a company devoted to individualize superior customer service, you’ll find it with the staff employed by all staff in all locations. No matter which location you visit, be it in Dunwoody, Lake Oconee\Greensboro, or Lake Sinclair Milledgeville there this the same high level of customer service. You’ll find one-of-a-kind personalized service and the very best in Atlanta Hearing Aids. There’s no need for you to look anywhere else for such a pleasurable experience in hearing testing and hearing aid fitting. Every step of the process is outlined in the greatest detail with a courtesy that will make your experience as pleasant as possible. The reasonable prices on all services and products will add even more joy to your Atlanta hearing aid buying experience. Take the stress and hassle out of what can offer a new chance to never miss another musical note or conversation with a loved one.

Knowledgeable and experienced Atlanta audiologists can be found at our three offices. Eager to help in all locations you’ll be introduced to an impressive array of diagnostic testing and evaluation, aural rehabilitation for children and adults. When hearing improvement is in order, the equipment used in every devise is of the highest quality. Some of the most advanced of these come from leading brands such as Phonak, Oticon, and Siemens. This way you’ll know your money is well spent and was used to purchase the very best in Atlanta hearing aids. With an office close to you, you only have to travel a short distance to improve the acuity in how well you can reacquaint yourself with the music which brings so much beauty to life.