If you or someone you know would like to learn more about hearing loss and how to treat it, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!
According to experts, hearing loss is a growing problem around the globe. Between the aging population and the increase in daily noise pollution, people are losing the auditory abilities at an increasing rate. When assistive devices, such as hearing aids, can't correct the problem, many sufferers turn to surgical procedures. But what kinds of surgeries are available to correct a loss of hearing?
As it turns out, there may be more than you think. Since hearing loss has many different causes, there are many different potential ways that it can be corrected. So let's take a look at a few of the most common procedures.
Implanting Hearing Aids
Most of us are generally familiar with hearing aids. They're wearable devices that amplify and clarify environmental noises, allowing people that are hard of hearing to register a wider range of sounds. In addition to the wearable kinds of hearing aids, however, there are also implants that can be surgically installed. For this procedure, the device is a bone-anchored implant, or BAHA, that is attached to the inner ear and transmits sounds by bypassing the damaged middle ear to impart vibrations directly on the cochlea. When regular hearing aids aren't enough, doctors sometimes recommend this type of implanted hearing aid.
Cochlear Implants
Perhaps the most famous hearing loss-related surgery, cochlear implants have given hundreds of thousands of hearing loss sufferers the ability to hear again. Similar in some ways to implanted hearing aids, cochlear implants are small devices that are placed under the skin and connect directly to the auditory nerve. This bypasses the damaged areas within the ear and provides auditory stimulation to the brain. These devices are typically used when hearing aids are incapable of restoring hearing ability.
Stapedectomy
Most hearing loss is caused by nerve damage inside the ear, but there are other culprits as well. One of the most common is otosclerosis, a condition that causes a malformation of the bones of the inner ear. To correct this problem, doctors can perform a stapedectomy to correct deformities int he stapes bone, allowing sonic vibrations to pass through normally, allowing sufferers to regain some of their ability to hear the world around them. So is surgery right for you or a hearing loss sufferer that you know? While these procedures can do wonders, not everyone is a good candidate. In general, hearing aids remain the best corrective measure for hearing loss, and surgery should only be considered on a case by case basis.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about hearing loss and how to treat it, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!
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