Learn about the various treatments of hearing loss, and then take a decision wisely. Always consult an experienced Audiologist before arriving at any conclusion.

2. ❖ Hearing loss or hearing impairment is the partial or
total inability to hear in either one or both of the
ears
❖ Hearing loss can be either temporary or permanent
❖ A deaf person has little or no hearing
❖ Hearing loss occur in both adults and children
(including newborns)

3. There are many treatments of hearing loss,
namely -
❖ Hearing aids
❖ Surgery
❖ Cochlear implant
❖ Medication
❖ Assistive listening devices

4. ❖ Depending on the status and degree, surgery and some
types of implantable devices can be used to treat
Conductive Hearing Loss such as -
➢ Bone Conduction Hearing Aids,
➢ Bone Anchored Hearing Devices,
➢ Surgically implanted Osseointegrated Device and
➢ Middle Ear Implants.
❖ If, however, some infection is the cause of Conductive
hearing loss, then certain antibiotics or antifungal
medications can be used as treatments.

5. ❖ The following technologies can help reduce the
effects of having Sensorineural Hearing Loss -
➢ Hearing Aids,
➢ Cochlear Implants and
➢ Hybrid Cochlear Implants
❖ However, Cochlear Implants are recommended
only when all other options have failed.

6. In case of Mixed hearing loss, it is most often
recommended to treat the Conductive part first,
because there have been times when treating only
this component made the person hear better when
accompanied with hearing aids.

7. ❖ Generally these treatments of hearing loss do not have any side-
effects, as they are prescribed by certified Professionals.
❖ However, certain medications can show minor side-effects
sometimes, if the patient has any previous medical complications.
❖ Therefore, it is advised not to decide all by yourself. Not all hearing
loss treatments suit everybody, even if two persons have the same
hearing problems.

8. ❖ There are various types of hearing aids, starting from the
large and visible ones, to extremely miniscule ones.
❖ Hearing aids can be classified based on the design, size,
technology used, features and lifestyle of the user.
❖ The commonly known hearing aids are -
➢ Body-Worn
➢ BTE or behind-the-ear
➢ ITE or in-the-ear
➢ ITC or in-the-canal
➢ CIC or completely-in-the-canal
➢ IIC or invisible-in-the-canal

9.  Based on the technology used hearing aids can be divided into
two types -
➢ Analog hearing aids
➢ Digital hearing aids
 Analog hearing aids amplify all sounds equally without
distinguishing between speech and noise.
 Digital hearing aids can distinguish between different sounds, and
can amplify only the speech by reducing or cancelling background
noise. In digital hearing aids, the sound signals are converted into
digital signals, thus increasing the flexibility of the devices.

10. ❖ There are many hearing aids today that
are technologically much advanced.
❖ These devices are not only easy to use,
but have no side-effects at all.
❖ However, you must keep in mind that
every hearing aid would not suit you, or
cure your hearing problems.
❖ Therefore, you must always consult an
expert Audiologist before taking any
decision for yourself.