The first step in determining your level of hearing begins with a comprehensive hearing evaluation.  All patients receive a thorough exmination before treatment options are discussed.  If cerumen (ear wax) is found during otoscopy, Dr. Hansn will remove it prior to the hearing evaluation.  Testing is performed in a certified sound booth for accurate results.                                                               

                                                                  


DID YOU KNOW..................

31 million Americans have a significant hearing loss.

One of every 4 households in the U.S. have a member who is hearing impaired.

Hearing loss has been cited as the third most common health related problem in America today.

Half of all hearing impaired individuals are over 65.

95% of people with hearing loss can be helped with today's advanced hearing aids.

According to the National Council on Aging...
71% of people who wear hearing aids report an improvement in life overall
74% of hearing aid wearers report an improvement in relationships at home
67% of hearing aid wearers report an improvement in self-esteem. 

CAUSES OF HEARING LOSS

Conductive hearing loss is caused by anything that interferes with the transmission of sound from the outer to the inner ear.  Below are some possible causes of conductive hearing loss.

-Middle ear infections (otitis media)
-Collection of fluid in the middle ear
-Blockage of the outer ear, typically wax
-Otosclerosis (ossicles of the middle ear harden and become less mobile
-Damage to the ossicles, for example by serious infection or head injury
-Perforated (hole) eardrum, which can be caused by an untreated ear infection, head injury or a blow to the ear,  or from poking something in your ear

SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS is due to damage to the pathway that sound impulses take from the hair cells of the inner ear to the auditory nerve and the brain.  Below are some possible causes.

-Age related hearing loss (presbyacusis)
-Acoustic trauma (injury caused by loud noise) can damage hair cells
-Certain viral or bacterial infections such as mumps or meningitis
-Meniere's disease, which causes dizziness, tinnitus and hearing loss
-certain drugs, such as powerful antibiotics, can cause permanent hearing loss.
-Acoustic neuroma (benign non-cancerous tumor affecting the auditory nerve)
-Other neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis or stroke

MIXED HEARING LOSS is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.




DIAGNOSING HEARING LOSS  
                                                                                
                                              
In adults, hearing loss may be very gradual, as in age-related hearing loss.  If you, your friends or family think that your hearing is deteriorating, you should have your hearing evaluated.

Pure tone audiometry-An audiometer produces sounds of different volumes and pitch (frequencies).  During the test, you are asked to indicate, usually by pushing a button, when you hear a sound in the earphones. 

Hearing loss is measured in decibels hearing level (dBHL).  A person who can hear sounds across a range of frequencies at 0 to 20dB is considered to have normal hearing.  The thresholds for the different types of hearing loss are as follows:

Mild    25-39 dBHL
Moderate     40-69 dBHL
Severe      70-89 dBHL
Profound      90dBHL and greater

Tympanometry-essentially measures the mobility of the eardrum.  It helps to identify any abnormalities in the auditory system.  During this test, a soft probe is placed into the ear canal and a small amount of pressure is applied.  The response of the eardrum is recorded which helps to determine if the eardrum is moving normally.   This test helps to rule out some outer and middle ear problems such as fluid behind the eardrum.

Otoacoustic emissions-This measures the responses the cochlea makes to sound produced by a probe placed in the outer ear.

THERE IS NO PAIN INVOLVED WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE TESTS