Understanding Hearing Loss
Hearing loss—or hearing impairment—is a reduction in your ability to hear. It can happen gradually or relatively quickly. At Beltone, we want to help you understand hearing loss and find the right solution.
What Causes Sensorineural Hearing Loss?
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs most frequently because of the normal aging process or exposure to loud noises. Other causes of sensorineural hearing loss include:
GeneticsIllness or disease
Medication side effects
Concussion, injury or trauma to the head
Remember: only a trained hearing care professional will be able to accurately determine the cause and type of your hearing loss, so be sure to book an appointment as soon as possible if you’re noticing symptoms.
How Do I Know If I Have Sensorineural Hearing Loss?
If you’re above the age of 55 and having trouble hearing soft or faint sounds, especially in noisy crowds or environments, your hearing loss is most likely sensorineural. You may feel like you’re picking up some sounds around you, but it’s not all crystal clear.
Some of the more common signs of sensorineural hearing loss include:
Sounds not only diminish in volume, but become distorted
The ability to hear high-pitched sounds is usually affected first
The ability to hear low-pitched sounds, such as vowel sounds, may be normal or relatively well-preserved
Can I Ignore Sensorineural Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss impacts much more than your ability to hear. Left untreated, hearing loss can affect many aspects of your life, including your overall health and wellbeing.
Untreated hearing loss can lead to depression, isolation, dementia, falls and more, so seeking treatment quickly is recommended.
Click the link below to learn more about the impacts of hearing loss—and how hearing aids can help you.
Online Hearing Assessment
Visit any Beltone Hearing Care Center to discover just how simple it is to improve your hearing.
You can also take our online hearing assessment to get a head start on your free appointment—we’ll forward your results to your local Beltone office. The results will help your hearing care professional begin the process of determining your level of hearing loss and which hearing aids are right for you.
Take the Next Step
Don't wait any longer to begin your journey to better hearing. Beltone is ready to help you hear what matters the most to you.
Schedule a free hearing screening with a Beltone hearing care professional to explore your options.
Types of Hearing Loss
Conductive Hearing Loss
A conductive hearing loss is often temporary and can sometimes be corrected with wax removal, medication or surgery.
Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss is precisely what it sounds like: a mix of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
Causes of Hearing Loss
Age-Related Hearing Loss
Along with exposure to loud noises, the natural aging process is the most common cause of sensorineural hearing loss.
Earbuds & Hearing Loss
Headphones and earbuds can induce hearing loss by isolating loud noises and placing them directly inside your sensitive ear canals.
Medication & Hearing Loss
Prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications that cause either hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms are called ototoxic medications.
Meningitis & Hearing Loss
While meningitis doesn’t always result in hearing loss, people who have had meningitis are at a much higher risk.
