Have you noticed that you don't hear quite as well as you once did? Your Los Angeles, CA, otolaryngologist, Dr. Christina McAlpin, can determine why you're having trouble hearing and recommend strategies, devices or treatments.
What causes hearing loss?
Hearing loss can occur for many reasons, including:
- Earwax Buildup: Your trouble hearing could be caused by too much wax in your ear.
- Aging: As you age, hair cells in your ear needed for good hearing die or become damaged.
- Loud Noises: Hair cells can also become damaged if you work with loud equipment, attend loud concerts or are exposed to loud noises in other places.
- Too Much Fluid: Did you first notice your symptoms after you were sick? Fluid buildup due to an ear infection could be the reason for your hearing issues.
- Medications: Some medications, including antibiotics and chemotherapy medications, can damage hair cells and cause hearing loss.
- Acoustic Neuroma: Hearing can be affected if a benign (non-cancerous tumor) forms on a nerve in your inner ear.
- Meniere's Disease: The disease causes ringing in the ears, dizziness, hearing loss and other symptoms.
- Otosclerosis: The overgrowth of bones in the middle of the ear due to otosclerosis can also affect hearing.
What are the symptoms of hearing loss?
If you have hearing loss, you may experience one or more of these symptoms:
- Difficulty following conversations in person or on the phone
- Misunderstandings because you didn't hear part or all of a conversation
- The need to turn up the TV or radio
- Inability to hear people talk to you from another room
- The feeling that everyone has started mumbling
How do otolaryngologists treat hair loss?
Treatment for hearing loss depends on the cause. Treating an underlying issue, such as removing impacted ear wax or prescribing antibiotics for an ear infection, may be all that's needed to improve hearing in some cases. If hearing loss is due to hair cell damage, your doctor may recommend hearing aids during your visit to the Los Angeles, CA, otolaryngology office. The aids make sounds louder and help filter out background noises.
Are you worried that you may have hearing loss? Call your otolaryngologist in Los Angeles, CA, Dr. McAlpin, at (213) 745-4060 to schedule an appointment.