Hearing loss is incredibly common and your risk of developing it increases with age. Hearing aids can help restore your hearing levels and quality of life. At SLENT, with locations in Mandeville, Slidell, and Hammond, Louisiana, the otolaryngology specialists evaluate your hearing loss and provide you with hearing aids. To learn more about how you can successfully restore your hearing, call one of the offices or use the online scheduler to book an appointment.
Hearing requires your outer ear to pick up sound waves, which then move into your middle ear – where your eardrum is located. When the waves hit your eardrum, a vibration is created and moves the tiny bones in your ear.
The vibrations make the tiny hairs in your inner ear move, creating nerve signals that your brain can then interpret as sound.
Hearing loss can be classified as conductive when it’s caused by an issue with your ear canal, eardrum, or the three bones connected to the eardrum. You may experience conductive hearing loss due to excess earwax, ear infections, and fluid behind your eardrum.
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when you’ve experienced damage to your inner ear or auditory nerve. Wear and tear from aging and long-term exposure to loud noise can contribute to sensorineural hearing loss.
How do hearing aids work?
Hearing aids magnify sounds to make them louder. The small microphones collect sounds from around you, and the device converts the sound into a digital code that adjusts the sound based on your hearing loss. The amplified signals are delivered as sound waves to your ears.
Hearing aid solutions can meet a variety of lifestyle needs. The doctors at SLENT offer several hearing aid options including:
BTE hearing aids fit just behind your ear and run a clear tube to an earmold that fits inside your ear. BTEs are also available in a mini model.
An ITE hearing aid fills up the entire bowl of your ear and extends partly into your ear canal.
CIC hearing aids are barely noticeable from the outside as they fit wholly or partially into your ear canal.
The doctors at SLENT carefully evaluate your symptoms of hearing loss, perform hearing tests, and do a thorough examination of your ears, nose, and throat. They determine if your loss is conductive or sensorineural to determine the right treatment plan and the best hearing aid for you.
To learn more about your hearing aid options, call one of the SLENT offices or book an appointment using the online tool.