Your GP, ENT doctor or Audiologist will be able to advise on the appropriate treatment for your hearing loss depending on its cause. Some conductive hearing losses can be treated with medication or by surgery. For example, antibiotics can be used for infection, blocked ears can be cleared and damaged eardrums or fused ossicular bones can be repaired by surgery.
However, most cases of sensorineural hearing loss and some conductive losses are permanent and cannot be resolved through medical or surgical intervention. If this is the case, hearing aids worn in one or both ears can be beneficial for most people suffering a hearing loss that cannot be cured.
There are many different types and make of hearing aid but essentially they all work in a similar way. A microphone in the hearing aid picks up the sound which is processed electronically into signals. These signals are then amplified by a receiver into louder sounds that you can hear. In addition some hearing aids can also reduce background noise which can be helpful in loud environments. Some hearing aids have been developed to assist particular types of sensorineural hearing loss or conductive loss.
An Audiologist or Hearing Aid Dispenser will be able give you more information about the specific types of hearing aid and which is suitable for your hearing loss.
