Do you often find yourself replying, Say that again, during a conversation? Do you have difficulty understanding words while in a crowded place? Does it seem as if your loved one is mumbling or talking quieter than usual? These could be signs of hearing loss.
As we age, hearing loss is a common problem. In fact, nearly 25 percent of people ages 65 to 74 and half of those who are 75 and older have disabling hearing loss, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Aging and chronic exposure to loud noises, such as from your occupation, are main contributors to hearing loss. However, inherited abnormalities and conditions, ruptured eardrums caused by unexpected, loud blasts or sudden changes in pressure, gradual buildup of earwax, some medications and infections are all risk factors for hearing loss.
If youre suffering from a hearing problem, you may feel disconnected to the world around you. The good news is you dont have to suffer in silence. While the damage may be permanent, there are numerous treatments available to improve your hearing and quality of life.
Hearing problems typically develop slowly over time and changes may not be immediately noticeable. If you find your hearing loss is interfering with your daily life and social activities, its time to talk to your doctor.
To diagnose hearing loss, an audiologist will ask about your symptoms and perform a physical exam to look inside your ear for possible causes, such as earwax or infection. In addition, your provider will perform hearing assessments, such as an audiogram, to test for which types of sounds and the softest sounds you can hear.
Surgeons can repair ear abnormalities to the eardrum or bone structure inside your middle ear or remove tumors or unusual growths blocking yourear canal. In addition, ear tubes can be surgically implanted to help drain fluid from your ear if youre experiencing chronic infections.
For permanent hearing loss, hearing aids are often the first step in improving hearing. A hearing aid is an electrical device that is worn on or inside the earto amplify sound and direct it into your ear canal. Hearing aids come in a range of styles, sizes and technology levels, and they can be matched to yourspecific hearing problem.
Bone-anchored hearing systems, such as the Baha implant, is a surgical option which can provide a better outcome for single-sided or middle ear hearing loss. Different from hearing aids, these specialty devices treat hearing loss through sound vibrations transmitted by bone conduction to the inner ear.
With treatment, patients are able to experience an improvement in their quality of life by having better access to speech and sound in their environment. Talk to your doctor about which treatment options are right for you so you can get back to enjoying life and be in tune with the world and loves ones around you.
Summa Health headquartered in Akron, Ohio is one of the largest integrated healthcare delivery systems in the state. Formed in 1989 with the merger of Akron City and St. Thomas Hospitals, our nonprofit system has 8,000+ employees; nearly 1,000 credentialed physicians; and buildings and facilities totaling more than 3 million square feet across all our campuses.
Providing superior, multi-specialty patient care, medical research and continuing medical education, Summa Health is consistently ranked one of the best healthcare providers in the country. We even have been honored with the Healthgrades Americas 100 Best Hospitals Award, which places Summa Health among the top two percent of all hospitals for clinical care and patient outcomes.
Summa Health provides services to a five-county area Summit, Medina, Portage, Stark and Wayne within Northeast Ohio. With medical services organized under the umbrella of Summa Health System, we have served millions of patients in comprehensive acute, critical, emergency, urgent care, outpatient and long-term/home-caresettings.
Summa Health is committed to offering a full continuum of compassionate coordinated care. Our services follow patients from preventive care through medical incidents, rehabilitationand maintenance. With care being coordinated among all of our providers primary physicians, surgeons, therapists, etc. conditions have a greater chance of being detected and treated earlier, which typically result in better outcomes for our patients.
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This innovative department is dedicated to providing wellness and educational tools, facilitating economic development programs, developing community partnerships and communicating Summas benefit to the community. We also engage the community and Summa's workforce within the system and throughout thecommunity.
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