We get asked this question a lot, and the short answer is, unfortunately, no. Most hearing loss is permanent and there is not currently a cure for, or a way to reverse hearing loss.
Fortunately, there are very effective treatment options for those with hearing loss. Medical and technological advances have made great strides in recent decades to help people effectively treat their hearing loss and essentially feel as though their hearing has been restored.
Why is Hearing Loss Permanent?
The two most common causes of hearing loss are natural aging and excess exposure to loud noises. While the cause might be different, the damage to your hearing is the same in both of these types of hearing loss. Hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the tiny, wispy, hairlike cells in our inner ear. These delicate little cells are responsible for turning the sound waves that enter our ear canal into electric signals our brains can process and understand as sounds we recognize. When these cells get damaged or become decayed, they are less able to carry out this important function. Unfortunately, there is not currently a way to restore damaged cells and once they are gone, they are gone. The more damaged cells you have, the less able you are to hear.
Stopping Hearing Loss Before It Starts
Of course, the most effective way to “treat” hearing loss is to keep it from happening before it starts. This is why hearing protection is so incredibly important today. Especially with our modern lifestyles and our constant access to personal listening devices, the risk for developing hearing loss is continuously increasing.
It is imperative that you protect your hearing and the hearing of your family by practicing safe listening habits and investing in hearing protection. Whether you enjoy sporting events, concerts, or ever a good fireworks show – hearing protection should be considered.
There are many options for custom hearing protection that are molded to fit perfectly inside your unique ear canal. These are the most comfortable and the most effective. We understand that custom hearing protection is not an option for everyone. Store-bought earplugs that are specifically made to block sound (as opposed to ear plugs for swimming) are also very effective at protecting your hearing.
The best part about hearing protection is that it does not matter how much or how little hearing you have left – it is always important and worthwhile to protect the hearing you do have!
Hearing Loss Treatment
If you already experience hearing loss, the best treatment plan for the vast majority of people is treatment with hearing aids. Many people believe that hearing aids simply make all the sounds around them louder, and this is simply not the case.
Hearing aids of today are extremely technologically advanced and come power packed with some pretty amazing features. Most hearing aids are able to accurately differentiate between sounds you want to hear (such as speech) and less important sounds (such as background noise). These hearing aids will amplify the sounds that are important while mitigating the sounds that are not. Many modern hearing aids also automatically adjust their settings to match your listening environment.
Today’s hearing aids are also able to treat other hearing related concerns such as tinnitus for those who experience it. Not only are hearing aids powerful and effective, they are also very sleek and discreet. Many hearing aids are even so tiny and inconspicuous that they are virtually invisible to others around you.
Are you experiencing some of the early signs of hearing loss?
Because hearing loss is so gradual, it can be very difficult to detect. However, there are some early signs that you can look out for. Some of the most common signs are complaints from friends and family that you are not listening, and the feeling that you can hear others speak but you just cannot understand them. It may sound as though everyone is mumbling or that their voices are muffled. Another common early sign of hearing loss is tinnitus, the annoying ringing or bussing sound in one or both of your ears.
Hearing Wellness Solutions
At Hearing Wellness Solutions of Springfield, we provide advanced testing techniques, modern equipment, and verification on your hearing prescription to ensure that you get the most out of your investment in hearing wellness. Our Services include hearing testing, hearing aid fittings, hearing aid maintenance and more. We service the Springfield area, including Ozark, Nixa, Republic, Willard, Rogersville, Strafford and Aurora. Contact us today to set up an appointment!
