Signs of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is a fairly common issue that affects many individuals around the world. Hearing loss means that you are either partially or totally unable to hear sounds. It is caused by numerous factors, but the most frequent ones are due to age and/or excessive noise exposure. Hearing loss could result from:

  • A ruptured eardrum
  • A progressive buildup of earwax
  • Infection in the ears or tumors
  • Inner ear damage

Here at the office of our otolaryngologist, Dr. Guilio Cavalli, in Pittsfield, MA, he can evaluate your case and recommend the most appropriate interventions for your hearing loss.

Hearing Loss Signs and Symptoms to Watch Out For

The general symptoms and signs of hearing loss that you may experience include:

  • Speech and other sounds seem muffled.
  • Difficulty hearing certain words, most especially if you’re exposed to loud background noise.
  • Difficulty hearing consonants.
  • A tendency to avoid some social settings or needing to get away from conversations due to hearing issues.
  • Having to increase the volume of a song or video.
  • Usually needing to request others to speak louder, slower, and more clearly.

Hearing Loss Risk Factors

The following are general risk factors that could likewise impact your hearing:

  • Exposure to extremely loud noises. If you are exposed frequently to loud sounds, it could damage the cells in your inner ear.
  • Aging. In the long run, structures in the inner ear naturally tend to degenerate.
  • Genetic factors. Your genes can make you more prone to hearing loss.
  • Recreational noises. Exposure to noises from things such as jet engines, motorcycle engines, or carpentry, could lead to permanent hearing loss.
  • Occupational noises. Being exposed frequently to loud noises while doing factory work or construction could likewise damage the inside of your ears.
  • Certain medications. Drugs like sildenafil, gentamicin, and particularly chemotherapy medications, could harm the inner ear. Furthermore, large doses of pain relievers and antimalarial drugs could temporarily affect your hearing.
  • Some illnesses. Diseases that come with a high fever can damage the cochlea.

Prevention Tips for Hearing Loss

The kind of treatment that your otolaryngologist in Pittsfield, MA, to correct your hearing loss would largely depend on the severity and cause of your hearing loss. That being said, hearing problems inherited since birth cannot be prevented, but these extra measures could lessen your risk of developing hearing loss:

  • Don’t poke deep into your ears with cotton swabs if you must use them.
  • Wear earplugs to loud events.
  • If your work environment involves loud noises, wear earmuffs or earplugs.
  • Don’t set the volume of your gadgets or devices too loud.

If You Have Concerns or Questions About Hearing Loss, Call Us

Dial (413) 443-6116‎ to arrange an appointment with our otolaryngologist, Dr. Giulio Cavalli, here in our Pittsfield, MA, practice.