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Most patients who experience hearing loss find that their hearing is slowly fading over time. Hearing loss can be due to age, illness, injury, or certain medical conditions. While hearing loss is not reversible, there are ways to help you hear better, thanks to advances in technology. At Texas ENT Specialists, we work with you to find the best solution for your hearing needs.

What Causes Hearing Loss?

Many different factors can cause hearing loss. A conduction problem occurs if the sound pathway in the ear canal, eardrum, or middle ear is disrupted. These conditions are usually correctable with office procedures or surgery. Hearing aids can be used in these cases as well. 

A sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the inner ear or hearing nerve is damaged or becomes dysfunctional. Among many other causes, common reasons of this type of hearing loss include:

  • Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis)
  • Noise-induced hearing loss
  • Hearing loss due to trauma or inherited disorders

These types of hearing loss cannot be corrected surgically, but hearing aids are a good option in many cases. There are some patients with hearing loss so severe on both sides that hearing aids are not helpful. These patients can potentially be helped with the cochlear implant.

Hearing Loss Treatment 

Your hearing loss treatment will depend on the cause and severity of your hearing loss. Some available treatments include: 

Ear Wax Removal

If there is a build-up of earwax, it can affect your ability to hear. Using a suctioning device or a small tool, your provider can remove any ear wax blockages.

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Surgery

For those with structural issues in or around their ears, surgery may be available. During surgery, these issues can be corrected, leading to an improvement in hearing abilities. 

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Hearing Aids

These small devices are worn behind the ear to increase the volume of the sounds around you. Hearing aids can be adjusted to your unique settings so that you get the most out of them.

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Cochlear Implants

These devices work best for those with profound hearing loss. They are able to bypass parts of the ear that are no longer working properly and directly reach the hearing nerve. 

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Types of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss falls into three categories: conductive, which includes the outer or middle ear; sensorineural, which is the inner ear; and mixed, which is a combination of both. Each of these areas plays a role in the hearing process — and if one is damaged or no longer functioning, hearing loss sets in. Most patients with hearing loss experience a gradual loss over a longer period of time.

Hearing loss is not due to one specific element, but can be caused by a variety of factors such as illness, repeated exposure to loud noises, aging, injury to the ear, and an excess of earwax. In most cases, hearing loss is unable to be reversed, but there are ways for it to be improved.

Symptoms of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss symptoms usually start when you need people to speak louder and begin having difficulty hearing the sounds around you. Eventually, this continues to progress until sounds are more and more challenging to hear.

Who Is Affected?

  • Primary those over the age of 60
  • Those exposed to frequent loud noise
  • Those with illnesses or injuries affecting the ears
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About Texas ENT Specialists

Texas ENT Specialists is a comprehensive ENT provider with offices throughout the Houston area. We provide each patient with:

Personalized Treatment

We provide fully customized care for your ENT condition, never taking a “cookie cutter” approach to treatment.

Top-Rated Physician Network

Each of our locations is staffed with a team of highly-trained and experienced providers.

Centers of Excellence

We provide a smooth patient experience from start to finish in an advanced, professional environment.

Continuity of Care

We work to help you find long-term relief from your conditions.

Hearing Loss FAQ's

Do all patients experience hearing loss as they age?

Not everyone experiences hearing loss with age, but it affects roughly half of those over 65 who live in the United States.

Is it possible to reverse hearing loss?

It’s not always possible to fully restore your hearing abilities, but some treatments can greatly help improve your current hearing.

With 18 convenient locations across the greater Houston & San Antonio areas, we’re never far away.

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