Hearing Loss Specialist

Hearing Loss services offered in The Loop, Chicago, IL

Hearing loss often develops slowly, so you don’t realize how much it’s affecting you until it reaches an advanced stage. If you can’t clearly hear what people are saying or need your TV volume turned up high, visit Michigan Avenue Hearing Health in The Loop in Chicago, Illinois, for a hearing test. The practice’s experienced doctors and audiologists will assess your hearing loss and help you hear better. Call Michigan Avenue Primary Care or book an appointment online today for expert hearing loss treatment.

Hearing Loss Q & A

What is hearing loss?

Hearing loss makes sound quieter and muffles speech. Hearing loss can be conductive or sensorineural:

Conductive hearing loss

Conductive hearing loss is usually caused by a blockage in your outer or middle ear. A buildup of cerumen (earwax) is a common cause of blockages. Other causes include fluid buildup behind your eardrum and problems with the middle ear bones.

Sensorineural

The likeliest cause of sensorineural hearing loss is exposure to extremely loud noise. Years of listening to loud music or working with noisy machinery often causes sensorineural hearing loss in middle age. This kind of hearing loss damages the hair cells or nerves in your ears that enable you to hear. It’s usually permanent.

You could also have mixed hearing loss, suffering from conductive and sensorineural problems.

How does hearing loss affect me?

Hearing loss has many effects on your day-to-day life. If you can’t hear what people are saying, it causes misunderstandings and frustration. You might avoid social situations because you can’t hear properly, becoming frustrated and isolated.

Hearing loss can also lead to problems like:

Depression and anxiety
Irritability and anger
Long-term fatigue
Stress and tension
Low self-esteem
Reduced alertness
Poor memory

Sometimes hearing loss happens so gradually that people don’t realize how bad it’s gotten. One key sign is frequently having to ask people to repeat themselves. If there’s any background noise, it usually makes this problem worse. Turning your TV or radio up so loud that other people comment on it is also a standard indicator of hearing loss.

To find out if you have hearing loss and why visit Michigan Avenue Hearing Health. The audiologists will assess your hearing loss with a thorough hearing test.

What can I do about my hearing loss?

If your hearing loss is conductive, your doctor can treat the blockage and restore your hearing. A simple procedure like earwax removal might be all you require. Or you might need surgery to remove fluid from behind your eardrum.

Hearing aids are usually the most effective treatment if you have sensorineural hearing loss. Michigan Avenue Hearing Health has a range of hearing aids that use advanced technology for better sound quality. Hearing aids are available in different styles and functions to suit your individual needs.

Call Michigan Avenue Hearing Health or Michigan Avenue Primary Care today or book an appointment online to schedule your hearing test.