Help for Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Naples and Estero, FL
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the tiny hair cells in the cochlear and/or auditory nerve. These hair cells are crucial to hearing. When they are damaged, sound energy reaches the cochlea, but the hair cells are unable to convert the sound energy into neural signals. Sensorineural hearing loss can also refer to auditory nerve abnormalities.
Symptoms of Sensorineural Hearing Loss
How can you know if you’re suffering from sensorineural hearing loss? If you are experiencing the following symptoms, this may be the cause of your hearing loss. Changes in your hearing can be jarring and scary. That’s why Florida Gulf Coast Hearing Center provides quick and compassionate care. Contact our team for diagnosis and treatment if you’re experiencing:
- Muffled hearing
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ear
- Difficulty understanding speech
- Sudden or steady loss of hearing
- Full or “stuffy” sensation in the ear
Sensorineural Hearing Loss Causes
When you visit our office at Florida Gulf Coast Hearing Center, we can determine what is causing your hearing loss. In some cases, if the cause is caught early enough, some hearing can be restored.
- Viral infection. Urgent treatment by an ENT or otolaryngologist can possibly recover hearing in this case.
- Aging. This is the most common cause of sensorineural hearing loss, and it cannot be reversed. Natural damage and deterioration happen to the hair cells in the ear as time goes on.
- Acoustic trauma. This is damage from exposure to loud noises. It is important to prevent this type of damage. You can wear ear protection when exposed to loud noises.
- Physical trauma or air pressure change. These things can cause the space in your inner ear that contains fluid to rupture.
- Autoimmune disease. The body’s immune system attacks the inner ear and causes progressive hearing loss.
- Meniere’s disease. This condition can include hearing loss, dizziness, ear fullness, and ringing in the ears.
- Central nervous system disease. This is caused by conditions such as MS (multiple sclerosis).
- Cochlear otosclerosis. This condition is caused by abnormal bone growth in the inner ear.
- Congenital inner ear malformation. This can be a genetic or environmental cause of abnormalities. This is the most common cause in children.
- Benign tumor. A noncancerous tumor compresses the hearing nerve, causing sensorineural hearing loss.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss Treatment Options
The first step in treatment for sensorineural hearing loss is to set up an appointment with your trusted team of audiologists at Florida Gulf Coast Hearing Center. At this appointment, we will be able to diagnose and determine the cause of your hearing loss. Knowing the cause is crucial, as that will determine what form of treatment we use.
In order to determine the cause, we will do a hearing test and potentially other tests, including a CT or MRI. Some of the hearing loss treatment options available at Florida Gulf Coast Hearing Center include:
- Continued observation with repeating hearing tests
- Corticosteroids can be used to reduce swelling and inflammation in the ear
- Low-sodium diet
- Evaluation and fitting of hearing aids or other assistive listening devices
- Surgery to correct the cause of the hearing loss
- Surgery to implant a hearing device
Contact Florida Gulf Coast Hearing Center
At Florida Gulf Coast Hearing Center, our team provides comprehensive hearing services. Our goal is to prevent, diagnose, and treat hearing loss through our advanced technologies and highly trained and certified audiologists. To learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment for sensorineural hearing loss treatment, contact us today at Florida Gulf Coast Hearing Centers.