Hearing problems range from common and treatable ear conditions to permanent hearing loss that requires a hearing aid. No matter what hearing problem you encounter, the team at ENT and Allergy Specialists of Western PA can help. They provide a range of conservative treatments, minimally invasive surgery when needed, and offer the most advanced hearing aids, from low-cost options to feature-rich hearing aids with smartphone integration. To schedule an appointment, call the office in Sewickley, Beaver/Vanport Township, Seven Fields, or Ohio Valley in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, or request an appointment online today.
You can develop two types of hearing loss, and each has different causes:
Conductive hearing loss occurs when a problem in your outer or middle ear prevents sound waves from reaching your inner ear.
The top causes of conductive hearing loss include:
Your hearing returns when your physician treats the underlying problem.
This type of hearing problem develops when your auditory nerve or the sensory cells in your inner ear suffer damage.
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs due to:
Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent but can improve with an assistive listening device or hearing aid.
Hearing problems, especially those an inner ear condition causes, often cause dizziness and vertigo.
One example is Meniere’s disease, which causes hearing loss and recurring episodes of vertigo. Other problems that cause temporary hearing loss, such as inner ear infections, often cause dizziness.
Hearing problems frequently appear together with ear conditions such as tinnitus and Eustachian tube dysfunction:
When you have tinnitus, you hear sounds that others don’t hear because the sound comes from inside your head. Though it’s called ringing in your ears, you may hear different sounds ranging from buzzing and rushing to whistling and hissing.
Tinnitus often accompanies hearing loss and conditions that cause hearing problems, including:
If you have hearing loss and tinnitus, a hearing aid may improve both problems by masking the sounds of tinnitus.
The Eustachian tube connects your throat to your middle ear. Every time you sneeze, yawn, or swallow, the tube opens, preventing air pressure and fluid from building up in your ear.
If the Eustachian tube gets clogged due to inflammation or mucus, you have Eustachian tube dysfunction. The condition affects your hearing and may cause ear pain.
If you need expert care for hearing problems, call ENT and Allergy Specialists of Western PA or book an appointment online today.
