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Hearing loss treatment options in 2024

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Advanced hearing loss treatment

Today we have more advanced options for treating hearing loss than ever before. In HearingLife, our certified hearing care professionals are trained to find the most optimal treatment for your unique hearing needs.

In case you have a hearing loss, we offer the latest in hearing technology to help you hear better. It starts with a thorough examination of your hearing. 


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5 steps to improving your hearing

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1. Learn how to recognize the signs of hearing loss
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2. Schedule your FREE hearing test in a clinic near you
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3. Select a pair of hearing aids and receive a risk-free trial
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4. Learn about payment plans and subsidy programs
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5. Hear well and live well. Receive extensive aftercare

Types of treatments for hearing loss

After your hearing care professional understands your hearing needs and has conducted a hearing evaluation, your treatment options will be discussed. The most common treatment options are:

Hearing aids
Ear wax removal
Medicine (antibiotics for infections and antihistamines for allergies)
Cochlear implants
Bone-anchored hearing systems

If hearing aids are recommended as part of your treatment plan, your hearing care professional will discuss the solutions available to you. There are many options available to suit your hearing and communication needs.

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Begin your journey to better hearing today:
Book a free appointment

Take the first step to better hearing by scheduling an appointment. The appointment is free of charge with no obligation to purchase. 

Hearing loss types and treatment

The main types of hearing loss (sensorineural and conductive) affect different parts of the ear, and the recommended treatment differs for each type. Additionally, there are other forms of hearing loss that are unique in their symptoms and treatment options. You can read about standard treatment options for each by clicking on the hearing loss types and causes below.

Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss. It is most often caused by the natural aging process or exposure to loud sounds. 

The most common way to treat sensorineural hearing loss is with hearing aids. There are various types of hearing aids available to suit your individual hearing needs, preferences, and lifestyle. 

Hearing aids
Conductive hearing loss is less common  than sensorineural hearing loss, and it is caused by an obstruction or damage to either the middle or outer part of the ear. This prevents sound from passing through and being properly processed in the ear.

Some conductive hearing loss may only be temporary if the obstruction can be removed. In other cases, the hearing loss may be permanent.

Conductive loss caused by wax build-up, ear infections, or foreign objects in the ear may be treated and cured with medical treatments that either remove the obstruction (i.e. wax or foreign object) or through antibiotics (in the case of recurrent ear infections). 

More complex cases of conductive hearing loss (such as injury to the ear drum or tumors in the middle ear) will most commonly be treated with either hearing aids or bone-anchored hearing systems (or surgically implanted devices which deliver sound to the brain through bone conduction of sound vibrations.)
The mucus buildup caused by allergies can lead to fluid or wax buildup in the ears, which can then prevent soundwaves from traveling through the ear. 

Additionally, allergic skin reactions may lead to swelling, which can affect your ability to hear.

Luckily, seasonal allergies and allergic skin reactions are typically temporary. Talk to your doctor about medications that are available to alleviate your allergy symptoms. Alleviating these symptoms may also improve your ability to hear. 
Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by a one-time exposure to an intense sound. It can also be caused by continually being exposed to loud sounds over a longer period of time. 

These loud sounds can damage the hair cells in your ear, which then leads to hearing loss. This type of hearing loss results in sensorineural hearing loss. 

Hearing aids are the best form of treatment for noise-induced hearing loss. Remember to protect your hearing whenever you find yourself in an area of exposure to loud sound/music/noise.

Life-changing hearing aids
Did you know that 80% of people experiencing tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss? Tinnitus is experienced as a buzzing or ringing in the ears.

While there is no cure for tinnitus, there are ways to lessen the symptoms of it.

Since the majority of people who have tinnitus also have hearing loss, hearing aids are commonly recommended for those with tinnitus. The outcome provided by hearing aids is two-fold: they amplify sounds so that tinnitus will be less bothersome. The hearing aids can also be programmed with sound therapy programs so that the user can listen to relaxing sounds through their hearing aids.

Take the Online Tinnitus Test
Sudden hearing loss – also known as sudden deafness - is an unexplained loss of hearing that either takes place all at once or over the course of a few days. In most cases, it is experienced in one ear only. 

Seek help immediately!

If you think you are experiencing any symptoms of sudden hearing loss, you should see a physician as soon as possible. Sudden hearing loss is considered a medical emergency and can be treated by an ENT physician. It is more likely that you will regain some of your hearing back if you treat this type of hearing loss within the first 72 hours.

For some people, it goes away by itself. And in some cases, it can be reversed by medical treatment.  

Little is known about the cause of sudden hearing loss, but it can be caused by conductive hearing loss (or an obstruction to the ear), so doctors will often do an examination to check for any obstructions that can be treated.

Steroids are often used in the treatment of sudden deafness in order to reduce inflammation and decrease swelling. 

If initial treatments for sudden hearing loss are not effective, then hearing aids can be used as treatment. In some cases, hearing care professionals may recommend cochlear implants or bone-anchored hearing systems which are both devices that are surgically implanted.

Did you know?

People with hearing loss wait an average of 7 years before they choose to seek treatment. 

Getting your hearing evaluated and treated with hearing aids is easy and painless. In fact, most hearing aid users regret that they didn’t seek treatment sooner.  

Consequences of untreated hearing loss
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Benefits of treating your hearing loss

Treating your hearing loss has a wide range of proven benefits:

Better communication
Improved social engagement
Improved quality of life
Improved performance at work
Increased levels of confidence

Discover hearing aid styles for all degrees of hearing loss

Knowing your level of hearing loss is an important step to understanding what might qualify as the best hearing aid for you. No matter your level of hearing loss, your hearing care professional will discuss the options available to suit your specific needs. 

Level of hearing loss

 Invisible-in-the- canal
Invisible-in-the-canal
Completely-in-the-canal
Completely-in-the-canal
In-the-canal
In-the-canal
Half/Full shell in-the-ear
Half/Full shell in-the-ear
miniRITE (Receiver-in- the-ear)
miniRITE (Receiver-in-the-ear)
miniRITE R (Receiver-in- the-ear) 
miniRITE R (Receiver-in-the-ear)
Behind-the-ear Plus Power
Behind-the-ear Plus + Ultra Power
Mild to 
moderate
hearing loss





 
Severe
hearing loss 


Profound
hearing loss

 
 Invisible-in-the- canal
Invisible-in-the-canal
Completely-in-the-canal
Completely-in-the-canal
In-the-canal
In-the-canal
Half/Full shell in-the-ear
Half/Full shell in-the-ear
miniRITE (Receiver-in- the-ear)
miniRITE (Receiver-in-the-ear)
miniRITE R (Receiver-in- the-ear) 
miniRITE R (Receiver-in-the-ear)
Behind-the-ear Plus Power
Behind-the-ear Plus + Ultra Power
Mild to 
moderate
hearing loss





 
Severe
hearing loss 


Profound
hearing loss

 

Mild to moderate hearing loss

When finding a hearing aid to treat mild to moderate hearing loss, there are a wide range of hearing aid styles to choose from. Both in-the-ear and behind-the-ear hearing aid styles are suitable, and the features can be personalized based on your preferences.

Severe hearing loss

In the case of severe hearing loss, behind-the-ear hearing aids are the most common hearing aid type used to treat this type of hearing loss, due to the fact that they typically have the battery power and technology required to effectively treat severe hearing loss. Full shell in-the-ear hearing aids may also be an option, depending on your hearing needs. No matter the option you choose, the features in the hearing aid can be catered to your personal needs.

Profound hearing loss

For those with profound hearing loss, if a powerful behind-the-ear hearing aid does not significantly improve the ability to hear in everyday life, then a hearing care professional may recommend surgical solutions such as cochlear implants or bone-anchored hearing systems.

Image show behind the ear hearing aidImage show behind the ear hearing aid

Receiver-in-the-ear (RITE Hearing Aids)

One popular type of hearing aid is the RITE (Receiver-in-the-ear) model. 

Suited for mild to profound hearing loss
All components are housed behind the ear with a clear tube leading to an earpiece that fits inside your ear
Modern hearing devices are sleeker and slimmer than older versions and are great for people with dexterity challenges or visual impairment
While modern behind-the-ear models are very discreet, they are not as invisible as in-the-ear hearing aids
Feature powerful technology and typically have more feature options than in-the-ear hearing aids
Image show CIC hearing aidImage show CIC hearing aid

In-the-ear

There are five types of in-the-ear hearing aids, ranging from the invisible-in-the-canal to the full shell in-the-ear hearing aid:

Suited for mild to severe hearing loss
The smallest hearing aid style is virtually invisible inside the ear
The full shell hearing aid style fits inside the outer bowl of the ear
All types are custom-made to suit the shape of your ear, ensuring optimal comfort and sound quality
Some models offer Bluetooth® technology so that you can stream sound from your phone, computer, or TV

Rechargeable hearing aids

Several hearing aid brands offer rechargeable hearing aid models. When you meet with one of our professionals, they can advise whether rechargeable hearing devices are a good fit for you. 

Rechargeable batteries are replaced every 4-5 years (on average)
Recharging is simple
Three to four hours of charge provides a full day’s charge
Save money over time
All-day use
Environmentally friendly
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Invisible hearing aids

Modern hearing devices are more discreet than ever before. In fact, many hearing aids are practically invisible. Designed to be especially discreet, the smallest variants of in-the-ear hearing aids are placed inside the ear canal. Examples of these include:

Invisible-in-the-canal
Completely-in-the-canal
Image show bluetooth hearing aidImage show bluetooth hearing aid

Bluetooth® hearing aids

Bluetooth® hearing devices can be used for many activities by connecting remotely to the devices mentioned below, turning your hearing aids into a wireless headset.

Hear phone conversations more clearly
Listen to your favourite TV program at your own chosen volume setting
Listen to music and podcasts on your device
Enjoy better sound quality on video chats and TV programs
Benefit from phone apps designed for Bluetooth® hearing aids

FAQ about treating hearing loss

As soon as you recognize any symptoms of hearing loss, you should seek treatment. Doing so will not only have a positive impact on your overall health in the long term, but it will also help getting used to life with hearing well again.

When to seek help

Over time, the reduced auditory stimulation associated with hearing loss can lead to social isolation, and it can also increase your chances of developing dementia besides other consequences of untreated hearing loss. Seeking treatment for hearing loss as early as possible will have a positive impact on your long-term health and wellbeing. 

While modern hearing aids are more effective than ever in restoring hearing significantly, they do not bring back your hearing to 100%. Fortunately, they can come close when it comes to clearly processing, hearing, and understanding all the sounds around you. In addition, the significant improvement in hearing that is provided by hearing aids is worth it given the positive impact they have on quality of life, self-confidence, and social engagement. 

The most advanced hearing aids work with your brain to process sound so that you achieve the most natural sound experience.   

Hearing loss itself cannot be treated naturally. Age-related and noise-induced hearing loss is permanent and conductive loss usually requires medical intervention. Therefore, they cannot be treated naturally.

That said, other effects related to hearing loss such as tinnitus could be helped from meditation and yoga.

Sources

1. Beck D.L. (2012) British Academy of Audiology. Podium presentation

2. Clason, D. (2017, July 13). Can allergies affect your ears and cause hearing loss? Healthy Hearing. https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/51352-Can-allergies-cause-hearing-loss.

3. Clason, D. (2020, January 21). Dual sensory impairment: Hearing loss and vision loss. https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52555-How-hearing-loss-is-different-than-losing-your-vision.

4. Clason, D. (2019, October 29). Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) causes. Healthy Hearing. https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/50276-Common-causes-of-sensorineural-hearing-loss.

5. G Livingston, Jonathan Huntley, Andrew Sommerlad, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet. July 30, 2020.

6. Frank R. Lin, M. D. (2011, February 1). Hearing Loss and Incident Dementia. Archives of Neurology. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/802291.

7. Hearing Industries Association. (2019, March 27). MT10: MarkeTrak 10. Marketing Research, Inc.

8. Hearing Loss Association of America. (2018, May). Do you think you have hearing loss? https://www.hearingloss.org/wp-content/uploads/HLAA_DoYouThinkYouHave_Hearing-Loss.pdf?pdf=DoYouThink

9. Juul Jensen (2018). Closing a gap to normal hearing. Oticon White Paper.

10. Juul Jensen (2019). Oticon Opn S Clinical Evidence. Oticon White Paper.

11. Mroz, M. (2020, May 4). Hearing loss types – Learn about sensorineural, conductive and mixed. Healthy Hearing. https://www.healthyhearing.com/help/hearing-loss/types.

12. Oticon Opn S™ Hearing Aids l Oticon. https://www.oticon.com/breaking-the-rules.

13. Santurette, S., Ng, E. H. N., Juul Jensen, J., & Man K. L., B. (2020). Oticon More clinical evidence. Oticon Whitepaper.

14. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020, December 14). Sudden Deafness. National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/sudden-deafness.

15. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020, December 14). Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss.

16. Victory, J. (2020, April 7). Bone-anchored hearing systems: What you need to know. Healthy Hearing. https://www.healthyhearing.com/help/hearing-aids/bone-anchored.

17. Victory, J. (2021, February) )Sudden hearing loss in one ear. Healthy Hearing. https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52462-Sudden-hearing-loss-getting-to-the-bottom-of-it