At ASI Beltone, helping you regain your quality of life by hearing better is our number one goal. Hearing loss can come on gradually with age or be caused by repeated exposure to loud noises. However it happens, the effects can have a great impact on your life. If you are suffering from hearing loss, you are not alone. ASI Beltone is here to help by offering customized hearing solutions.
What is Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss is often described as not being able to hear as well as someone with “normal” hearing, with normal meaning thresholds of 20dB or better in both ears. It happens when sound enters the ear normally, but because of damage or an obstruction to the ear, the sound isn’t able to be processed in a way the brain can understand.
Warning Signs of Hearing Loss
Being assessed by a hearing specialist is the only way to determine for certain if you have hearing loss. To help you get started, ASI Beltone offers a free hearing test. You may be experiencing hearing loss if you have symptoms such as:
- Hearing speech or other sounds that seem muffled
- Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds
- Ringing in the ears
- Difficulty understanding speech over the phone
- Difficulty understanding conversations in noisy areas, like restaurants
- Asking people to speak more loudly or slowly or to repeat themselves
- Feeling the need to turn up the volume of the television or radio
- Feeling a hypersensitivity to certain sounds which bother you or cause pain
If you think you have a hearing loss, you can take our online hearing test to see if further evaluation is necessary.
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Causes of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can happen to anyone, and it can be caused by many things, but the most common causes are through prolonged exposure to loud noises and the aging process. Hearing loss can also be caused by:
- Genetics
- Occupational noises
- Some medications
- Some illness that result in high fever
Unfortunately, most hearing loss is permanent, but ASI Beltone specializes in returning your quality of life with the help of hearing aids, or other personalized treatments.
Types of Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss
This is the most common type of hearing loss, accounting for 90% of all adult hearing problems. It is often related to aging and a history of noise exposure, affecting the cochlea and auditory nerve.
Conductive hearing loss
Stemming from problems in the outer or middle ear, conductive hearing loss is most likely temporary and can be corrected with medication, earwax removal or surgery.
Mixed hearing loss
When mixed hearing loss occurs, both sensorineural and conductive hearing losses happen at the same time. This can often be treated with medication, earwax removal, surgery and additionally hearing aids.
What To Do If You Think You Have Hearing Loss
If you think you are experiencing the signs and symptoms of hearing loss, the first step is to be evaluated by a hearing specialist. ASI Beltone starts with a free hearing test that acts as a first step toward a personalized hearing health assessment. Our goal is to create customized treatment options based on gathering the most accurate information depending on your individual needs.
One of your treatment options may be hearing aids. Hearing aids can help restore your quality of life by amplifying and separating sounds to your specific needs. ASI Beltone are experts in hearing aid implementation and offer a range of state-of-the-art hearing aid options as well as ongoing customized care to keep your hearing aids working to their maximum potential.
Protecting Your Hearing
One of the best things you can do to make your hearing health a priority is to protect your hearing. While we all might lose some of our hearing as we age, noise-induced hearing loss is completely preventable and protecting your hearing early on will help avoid worsening age-related hearing loss.
- Protect your ears – Limiting your exposure to noise is your best protection. If you work in a noisy environment or are going to an event that will be particularly noisy like a concert or sports game, wear earplugs or earmuffs to help protect your ears from the noise.
- Have your hearing tested – If you work in a noisy environment, consider getting regular hearing tests. Even if you have already experienced some hearing loss, this can help you prevent further loss.
- Avoid recreational risks – Activities like hunting, using power tools, going to concerts or riding snowmobiles can damage your hearing over time. Taking a break from these activities every once in a while and wearing hearing protection while participating can protect your ears.
Don’t let hearing loss affect your quality of life. Let ASI Beltone help you get back to what you love. Fill out the form to schedule your free hearing test today.