Basic Information on Hearing Loss for Residents in Edmonton

Our ears are one of the essential sensory organs, and hearing loss has serious implications. Hearing loss can be related to aging, noise exposure, illness or it may be inherited. Hearing loss can happen suddenly, but it usually happens gradually. Untreated hearing loss can be a factor in social isolation and cognitive decline. Fortunately, hearing loss in Edmonton can usually be improved by the use of our hearing aids. The skilled team at Alberta Hearing Service in Edmonton can provide you with the necessary assistance on combating hearing loss and using hearing aids. Call us today.

Signs of Hearing Loss

We at Alberta Hearing Service can treat your hearing issues quickly if you come to us at the earliest opportunity. Here are some important indicators of hearing loss:

Your ears feel plugged

Hearing loss will make you feel as if your ears are clogged. The sound is muffled and vague. It can seem as if something is interfering with your ability to hear properly.

Slow processing of sounds

Hearing failure interferes with the ability to hear some sounds. This means you could hear a jumble of incomplete noises instead of full words and sentences.

Difficulty hearing in background noise

Background sounds, such as clanking dishes and other noises, make it difficult to concentrate on speech and hold a conversation while you have hearing loss.

Difficulty hearing high-pitched voices

The tone of children's and women’s voices can be the most difficult to hear for people with hearing loss.

Needing more volume for television or radio

It can be difficult to hear television, movies and music when your hearing deteriorates, so you might turn up the volume. Consult us if you feel the need to increase the volume significantly more than others.

Difficulty talking on the phone

Conversations on the phone, particularly on our mobile devices, can be difficult for all of us. Due to poor reception and background noise, it is often important to fill in the blanks in a conversation, but with hearing loss, it is even harder. As a result, voices may seem muffled and nearly impossible to understand.

People complaining that you don’t hear well

People around you may notice that you ask them to repeat themselves in order to hear them.

Avoiding conversations due to lack of hearing

If you have trouble hearing in some places or circumstances, you can find yourself avoiding them.

Mental exhaustion

Hearing needs more cognitive effort when you have hearing loss. You may experience mental exhaustion as a result of this.

Types of Hearing Loss

A variety of factors can cause hearing loss. The aging process, long-term noise exposure at work, a noisy explosion, recreational noise exposure, heredity, medications, ear infection, or an accident may all impair our hearing. Learn about the two main forms of hearing loss.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Conductive hearing loss is a form of hearing loss caused by a problem in the outer or middle ear. The following are some of the most common causes:

Infection of the outer or middle ear

Excessive wax

Foreign bodies

Eardrum with perforations

Otosclerosis

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Perceptive hearing loss, also known as “sensorineural hearing loss,” is caused by damage to the inner ear. The following are some of the most common causes and treatments for sensorineural hearing loss:

Hearing loss as people get older (presbycusis)

Noise-related hearing loss

Trauma from a blast

Nerve cell poisoning (ototoxicity)

Sudden hearing loss