At The Hill Hear Better Clinic, we identify, diagnose and educate our patients on their specific type of hearing loss. And while their loss may fall into a category, our care is based on our patients’ individual needs. To learn more about the different types of hearing loss and how our professional experts can help you, please read more below.
- Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common. It occurs when the cochlear hair cells or auditory nerve is damaged, preventing electrical signals from properly passing messages to the brain. This type can either be hereditary or a natural part of the aging process. It can also be caused by exposure to loud sounds or from certain types of medications. Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent, but it can be treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants.
- Conductive hearing loss occurs in the middle or outer ear. Typically, a physical blockage prevents the passage of sound from reaching the brain. This obstruction could be caused by a variety of things including an ear infection, a punctured eardrum, fluid build-up, an abnormal growth or even just earwax. Conductive hearing loss is commonly treated with hearing aids, removal of excessive ear wax, or medical intervention by a proper specialist.
- Loss of hearing can even be caused by a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, which is called mixed hearing loss. For instance, someone who has permanently lost hearing due to loud noises in construction work could also have a middle ear infection that temporarily blocks even more sound. Treatment for mixed hearing loss can include several combinations of different treatments.
In addition, hearing loss can be caused by tumors on the nerve of the inner ear. We are trained to identify these growths during our thorough examinations and will refer our patients to the right medical professional to receive proper care
What is a hearing aid? Put simply, a hearing aid is a tool that allows people with hearing loss to hear better so they can stay engaged in their lives and not miss a thing.
Hearing aids have four components: a microphone, digital processor, amplifier and speaker. The microphone detects sounds and the processor, translates the sound waves into a numerical code— similar to a computer’s code. The processor also discerns the important sounds to the amplifier to increase the sound. The amplifier then transmits the new sound to the speaker that then relays the selected sounds to the person’s ear.
Over the years, hearing aids have come a long way. Instead of just simply amplifying sounds using analog technology, modern hearing aids are state-of-the-art digital tools that monitor/measure pitch and volume and then filters out background noise allowing the user to hear exactly what they want, clearly and easily.
Over-the-counter hearing solutions cannot offer the same custom, well-fit options an experienced audiologist delivers. At The Hill Hear Better Clinic, we utilize the most advanced technology in the industry to provide our patients with the highest level of care and improved hearing.
We also take the time to really understand our patients’ individual lifestyles and hearing needs in order to provide them with the best solution possible and make any adjustments necessary for optimal use.
Finding the right hearing aid for you is important but did you know that fine-tuning and securing the proper fit is also vital to hearing aid success?
If a hearing aid isn’t fit and fine-tuned properly, patients can become frustrated with their hearing aids and experience issues such as:
- Feeling as though their hearing has worsened
- Difficulty hearing on the phone
- Trouble hearing every day conversations, especially in places with background noise
- Feeling like other people are mumbling when speaking with them/voices are not as clear as they used to be
- Whistling sounds and/or feedback
- Tender spots in the ear and/or overall physical discomfort
- Hearing too much or hearing too little
In addition, improperly fit hearing aids can also fall out and get lost, leading to costly replacements that could be avoided.
At The Hill Hear Better Clinic we see many patients who come to us because their hearing aids don’t seem to be working as well as they should be. Fortunately, our expertise in fitting hearing aids means we are often able to address their issues easily and inexpensively– by measuring the hearing aid’s output right at the ear drum (a real ear response and live speech mapping) and making any necessary adjustments to make sure they are as beneficial as possible.
This way, we are able to adjust sound levels to suit individual hearing needs and preferences in a variety of different environments.
We also need to ensure a proper physical fit, so taking a proper impression of our patients’ ears and carefully examining and evaluating the ear mold’s feel and fit is very important. Another issue with physical fit is the change in acoustics we might see from a new ear mold or dome on a hearing aid. This also requires a re-programming of the hearing aids using real ear measures to ensure the amplification of the hearing aid is meeting certain targets to guarantee patient benefit and ultimately, satisfaction.
We also mold custom ear monitors for musicians—from local church groups to nationally recognized musicians and bands—to not only help them hear themselves while performing but also offer ear protection to prevent future hearing loss.