Sensorineural Hearing Loss Treatment: Know Your Options

If you are one of the millions of Americans who have some form of hearing loss, you have likely experienced the dramatic effects it has on your life, your ability to communicate, and your relationships. Hearing loss has a large impact on everyday life, especially as you age. Don’t put off sensorineural hearing loss treatment. Early detection can often result in a better outcome.

What Is Sensorineural Hearing Loss?

According to researchers from the same study, there are several factors that contribute to or cause SNHL:

• Age (persons over the age of 65)
• Loud noises (repeated exposure to loud sounds or even a single loud blast)
• Ototoxic medicines, diseases, or viral infections

Treatment for Sensorineural Hearing Loss

It's important to detect hearing loss as soon as possible. “When a person is diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss, the severity will greatly impact the treatment options available,” Lilach Saperstein, AuD, an audiologist and host of the All About Audiology podcast tells ishonest Connect to Care.

According to Saperstein, sensorineural hearing loss is not curable, but there are ways to make sounds more audible. “Hearing aids and cochlear implants are among the common devices,” Saperstein says. Another recommendation by Saperstein is the introduction of sign language as a means to communicate. This is especially important considering that your hearing could worsen as you age.

Hearing Aids: Hearing aids are one of the options to consider in the treatment of hearing loss. They are small devices you wear inside or behind your ear. Whether you experience slight or profound SNHL, hearing aids are a good first option. Hearing aids make the sounds in your environment louder and help you become more aware of your surroundings. They can also help with understanding speech.

Implants: According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) sit in the bone behind your ear and may be appropriate for some people for whom an ear-worn device is not appropriate. The BAHA has a vibrating mechanism that can deliver the sounds directly to the inner ear/cochlea. If you have mild hearing loss, the bone-anchored hearing aids implant can help you to discern sounds better.

If your hearing loss is more severe, speak to your doctor about a cochlear implant. When other hearing aids no longer provide enough assistance, cochlear implants could be the answer. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, implants don’t amplify sounds like hearing aids. Instead, they provide the person with a perception of sound via electrical pulses. It takes some time to learn how to interpret these sound signals. With appropriate rehabiliation, andage, many cochlear implant recipients adapt and learn to understand speech within a year.

Hearing Loss Can Be Treated and Managed

In many cases, hearing loss is a treatable condition. It is worth taking the time out to get the answers and treatment you or your loved one deserves. Don’t wait. Start today.

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