Conveniently located to serve San Diego
Hearing loss occurs when there is a total or partial inability to hear sound in one or both ears. It can be experienced by adults and children alike. At ENT Associates of San Diego, hearing loss is treated with great care and expert precision by our board-certified otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors). We have three convenient locations in La Mesa, Chula Vista, and Escondido, California
When Should I Seek Treatment For Hearing Loss?
When children experience hearing loss, it is very important to diagnose and treat it as early as possible to limit the potential impact on learning and development. Adults with hearing loss may experience difficulty with employment, education, and overall well-being.
If you have a sudden hearing loss in one ear, seek immediate medical attention. Treatment for deafness will depend on your diagnosis.
Symptoms of Hearing Loss
The most common signs of hearing loss include muffled sounds and difficulty hearing consonants. Other symptoms include having trouble hearing whole words (especially in crowded areas with background noise), feeling less inclined to converse, and asking people to speak louder.
Causes of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss may occur due to one or more of the following reasons:
- Ear infection in the middle or outer ear
- Tumor growth
- Earwax buildup
- Ruptured eardrum
- Eardrum infection
- Sudden pressure change
- Loud noise exposure
- Aging (can damage the cochlea’s nerve cells or hair cells, affecting signal transmission to the brain)
- Occupational noise exposure
- Recreational noise exposure
- Certain medications
- Medical conditions
- Heredity
Diagnostic Hearing Assessments
To diagnose the severity of your hearing disorder, you’ll undergo a physical exam to check for an ear infection, earwax buildup, or structural issues. You will also need to complete general screening, audiometer, and tuning fork tests.
Hearing Loss Treatment
Your hearing impairment treatment plan will depend on your diagnosis. Potential treatments include ear surgery, earwax removal, cochlear implants, changing medications, antibiotics, hearing aids, or wearing sound-enhancing technologies. Your doctor will discuss these options and what is ideal for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. Some types of hearing loss, like those caused by infections or blockages, are usually temporary and reversible. Others, depending on the cause and severity, may be permanent.
No, hearing loss can affect one ear more than the other, and in some cases, only one ear is impacted. This is known as unilateral hearing loss.
Hearing aids can’t bring your hearing back to normal, but they significantly improve your ability to hear and communicate. They amplify sound and make picking up speech and background noise easier.
Never insert cotton swabs into your ear canal. They can push wax deeper or even damage the eardrum. Ear canals are self-cleaning. It's best to let a doctor handle earwax removal if needed.
Yes, prolonged exposure to loud volumes through earbuds can damage the inner ear cells. Listening at safe levels and taking breaks help protect your hearing.
Contact Us
Do you want to treat your hearing loss in San Diego before it worsens? Set up a consultation at ENT Associates of San Diego today to address that hearing problem!
