Ear structure
Our hearing can be damaged in a number of ways, most common being noise exposure, an ear virus or infection, trauma to the side of the head and genetic birth defects. In rare cases, hearing can be damaged by the growth of a tumor or foreign object entering the ear. With so many causes, each limited in treatment, getting a proper diagnosis is the first step to recovery. Certain types of hearing loss can be medically or surgically corrected. Advances in computer technology and ear surgery have made possible the many treatment options available for those suffering from damaged hearing.
Getting Help
Working with a qualified ear specialist ensures that you will receive the best possible treatment. The first step to healing is getting an accurate diagnosis. The initial examination needs to include a full documentation--by your specialist--of what you believe caused the damage to your hearing. A visual exam should be performed, followed by a complete audiometric exam--hearing test--performed by an audiologist. The hearing test will determine the extent of the damage, if there are multiple causes, and can limit or expand your treatment options. Lastly, but most importantly, a MRI should be ordered. An MRI checks for tumors growing inside the inner ear. After these tests have been completed an accurate diagnosis can be made. There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion, especially if the specialist you are seeing is vague or only offering one treatment option. Qualified professionals to look for include audiologists; ear, nose and throat doctors; and otolaryngologists. If the MRI is normal and surgery isn't an option, you should seek help from a board certified hearing specialist.
Surgery
Hearing loss caused by a hole in the ear drum, damage to the middle ear, a tumor or growth, complete nerve deafness or a collapsed ear canal can often be surgically corrected. There are four surgical procedures that have become routine treatment for these cases. Tympanoplasty is the reconstruction of a ruptured, missing or perforated ear drum. It is a fairly simple operation performed under local anesthesia. A stapedectomy is an operation on the middle ear. In a stapedectomy, the damaged stapes bone is replaced with an artificial bone. A mastoidectomy is an operation to remove a tumor in the ear. Depending on the size and placement of the tumor, a mastoidectomy can be a very serious operation. For many years there was no medical treatment available for nerve deafness, however, artificial nerves are now being implanted with growing success rates. In a cochlear implant operation, an electrode implant takes the place of the damaged nerve center--the cochlea--in the inner ear. Make sure to review all of the pros and cons of surgery, including the risks and success rates of the operation you are considering, with your doctor.
Hearing Aids
Hearing loss caused by noise exposure, damage to the ear from a virus or infection, or nerve damage, is best treated with a hearing aid. Partial nerve damage will cause a hearing loss, not total deafness. Although partial nerve implant surgery may be an option, surgery can include the risk of going completely deaf. If you still have partial hearing, you can safely artificially restore the rest through a hearing aid. This is an option to explore with a board certified hearing specialist, someone who specializes in fitting hearing aids. Using the results of your audiometric exam, a specialist will prescribe the correct hearing aid for your hearing loss. Before investing in a hearing aid make sure that you are comfortable with what the specialist is recommending, the hearing aid comes with a money back guarantee, and that you can return to the specialist office, free of charge, for adjustments to your hearing aid. A hearing aid doesn't restore normal hearing, but can really make up for what you are missing having damaged hearing.
Tags: your hearing, accurate diagnosis, board certified, board certified hearing, certified hearing, certified hearing specialist, first step