The question now we all have to ask is, how this hearing loss affects individuals who have it and what can be done to treat this hearing loss?

Thanks to our improvements in technology, now sensorineural loss can be treated more properly. Patients can still lead excellent lives and not have to worry about being at a disadvantage when it comes to their hearing.

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the auditory nerves are damaged or weakened. This can be the result of a trauma such as a sudden loud noise. It can also be caused by continual loud noises. Many people who work in loud environments such as airport and construction sites are in relative danger of such hearing loss.

However sometimes it is a genetic or inherited problem. Before hearing aid technology or any technology used to combat hearing loss, it was very difficult to assist this type of hearing problem. Fortunately, thanks to drastic improvements, it can now be combated more readily.

Since this is a non-reversible hearing loss, the loss will unfortunately be permanent. However, with the advancement in hearing aid technology the digital hearing aid is rather useful. It would be able to amplify sound strong enough for the nerves to react. The other option is the cochlear implant which can give electric stimulation to the nerves helping improve hearing in those with profound or severe hearing loss. So while this may be a horrible loss, audiologists, ENT’s and anyone else in the audiology field alike will assure you that you have many options to help combat your hearing loss.

» Does your child not respond to your voice if you speak at a normal level?

» Does your child react less to noise and more to movements?

» Around 18 months old, was your child unable to say basic words such as, “mama,” and “dada?”

Again, if you answer yes take them to see an audiologist as soon as possible. Most people do not realize how critical hearing is to the process of learning and proper development in children. It is critical for the parents to take them to see an audiologist at the earliest sign and to describe the situation as clearly as possible to an audiologist. If not diagnosed, the child may suffer from hearing loss affecting them physically, but also hindering their abilities in future. So if anyone ever tells you audiologists are only for the elderly you let them know the truth.