Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss for those individuals
Sudden hearing loss can be caused by a number of factors. But, if you experience sudden hearing loss, it is important to be seen as soon as possible by your primary physician, an Ear Nose Throat physician or an Audiologist. The reason for this need to be seen immediately is that there are certain sudden hearing losses that can be reversed if you are seen and diagnosed with a sudden hearing loss.
If you bypass a very important 48-72 hours, it is possible that your hearing loss can not be reversed. The only way to know is to go to see your Audiologist as soon as possible where a hearing test can be performed and necessary referrals can be made.
Other reasons that can cause sudden hearing loss are: wax occlusion, perforated tympanic membranes, ear infections, noise exposure and injury to the ear such as hitting your head/ear. The best way to determine what you need is to see your audiology professional, such as Dr. Mendoza at Optimum Audiology.
Sudden deafness is diagnosed with a hearing test that is performed by your local Audiologist. They will perform Air and Bone Conduction, speech testing, a thorough case history and specialized testing called tympanometry, acoustic reflex testing and acoustic reflex decay. Each of these tests provides a window into how your auditory system is working and the possible causes and/or reasons for the sudden hearing loss. If sudden hearing loss is found then the Audiologist will refer you to an Ear Nose Throat Specialist and your Primary Physician for further testing which could include an MRI.
A case history is obtained from you with specific questions and symptomatology that relate to hearing loss, your ears, and your past medical history. A case history will focus on associated symptoms like ear pressure, ear pain, length and severity of the hearing loss, dizziness, tinnitus, past history of ear infections and ear surgeries, and a family history of hearing loss.
Dr. Mendoza and Optimum Audiology are proud to offer Visual Otoscopy. This means that a small camera will be inserted into your ear canal to determine the health of your external ear canal and tympanic membrane. The tiny camera can ascertain if you have cerumen, a foreign body, a perforation, an ear infection, or small bumps on your external canal wall called osteomas. You will be able to see your own ear canal and tympanic membrane on the computer screen so you are a part of the experience of your hearing test protocol.
Differential testing is additional testing beyond the traditional hearing test with beep sounds and spoken words. Differential testing can include tympanometry, acoustic reflexes, acoustic reflex decay, otoacoustic emissions, cognivue, and eustachian tube testing. Each of the differential testing protocols provide a more indepth look at your auditory system. These tests are instrumental in providing additional information to allied specialists like Ear Nose Throat specialists and neurologists.
Tympanometry is a test that puts pressure into your ear canal in order to test your tympanic membrane. If your tympanic membrane is functioning normally, the ear pressure will cause the tympanic membrane to push in and then pull back out when the pressure is moved through the tympanic membrane. This allows the Audiologist to know that the tympanic membrane is moving adequately to allow sound waves to enter the middle and inner ear without delay.
When the tympanic membrane does not move adequately, this is usually related to completed cerumen occlusion in the ear canal or middle ear dysfunction. Middle ear dysfunction can be attributed to ear infections, perforated or thickened tympanic membranes, and discontinuity or fixation of the middle ear bones.
Audiometry consists of testing of your ability to hear different frequencies, having speech testing, and additional testing like Speech In Noise testing that helps them to determine your level of difficulty with your current hearing loss. It also may come with additional testing like tympanometry, acoustic reflex testing and otoacoustic emission testing.
If Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is needed, it would be ordered and requested by your Primary Physician or Ear Nose Throat specialist. If your hearing test revealed certain warning signs, your Audiologist would refer you to the appropriate professional to get the MRI that is needed for further information about your auditory system.
