Understanding Hearing Loss and Treatment Options
Hearing impairment is a common disability that affects more than 250 million people worldwide. In the United States, the most common cause of hearing impairment is age-related. Age-related hearing loss is permanent.
The consequences of hearing loss on daily life are profound, impacting social, functional and psychological well-being. Mild hearing loss can impair the ability to distinguish high-pitched sounds, including voices. In children, hearing loss can affect the child’s speech, language and social development.
Hearing loss impacts the ability to converse and exchange information at work and at home, causes misunderstandings, interferes with participating in social events and creating relationships, causes difficulty following directions, hearing alarms, and can result in social isolation, dependence, frustration, anxiety and depression. Hearing loss also affects those around you.
FirstHealth's Audiology team can help you understand the severity of your hearing damage or loss and provide you with the best method of treatment. The decision to do something about your hearing is an important step. We provide hearing evaluations for children, teens and adults.
Hearing Tests
A standard hearing evaluation may consist of various tests to determine your hearing loss, as well as the level at which you can detect and understand speech. This evaluation can be used on people of all ages.
Adult Hearing Evaluations
A diagnostic hearing evaluation is the first step in determining the level of your hearing impairment. If you suffer from hearing loss, the evaluation will determine the extent, type and specifics of your hearing loss. The diagnostic hearing evaluation is performed by one of our board certified audiologists. A hearing evaluation may include air conduction testing, bone conduction testing, speech testing, distortion product otoacoustic emissions, auditory brainstem response, tympanometry or acoustic immittance testing.
Diagnostic Audiograms
Comprehensive audiometry is comprised of various tests to help audiologists determine the type and degree of hearing impairment a patient is experiencing. The tests can be performed on almost every patient and include:
- Pure tone audiometry
- Speech audiometry
- Immittance audiometry
- Evoked autoacoustic emissions
- Electronystagmography
- Auditory brainstem
Tinnitus Management
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a sound in the ears or head which is not from an external source. There are many types of tinnitus sounds. The most common observed Common are a hiss, whistle, whirr, ring or buzz. Sometimes, people report hearing segments of music. Pitches can be high or low and the level can vary over time.
Tinnitus Assessment and Management
Tinnitus—the perception of ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears—can be disruptive, but effective management strategies can significantly reduce its impact. The first step is identifying and treating any underlying causes, such as hearing loss, ear infections, or medication side effects.
Lifestyle adjustments like reducing exposure to loud noise, managing stress through mindfulness or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and maintaining a healthy diet can also help. Sound therapy, including white noise machines or masking devices, can make tinnitus less noticeable, especially during quiet times like bedtime. Hearing aids with built-in masking features may offer dual benefits for those with hearing loss. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) and relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation can further support long-term coping.
While there’s no cure, these approaches empower individuals to live well with tinnitus and improve their overall quality of life.
Pediatric Hearing Testing and Care
Why Early Testing Matters
The consequences of hearing loss on daily life are profound, impacting social, functional and psychological well-being. Mild hearing loss can impair the ability to distinguish high-pitched sounds, including voices. In children, hearing loss can affect the child’s speech, language and social development.
Babies should be screened no later than one month of age. If a baby fails a hearing screening they should be retested before 3 months of age. Intervention should begin no later than 6 months of age. Children who fail a hearing test should have a complete audiology evaluation.
Child-Friendly Testing Methods
Hearing tests for children are designed to be safe, gentle, and engaging, tailored to each child’s age and developmental stage. For newborns, non-invasive methods like Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) and Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) can detect hearing issues while the baby sleeps.
As children grow, interactive techniques such as Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) and Conditioned Play Audiometry (CPA) turn hearing checks into fun games—encouraging toddlers and preschoolers to respond to sounds with toys or playful actions. Older children may use headphones and press buttons during Pure Tone Audiometry, or repeat words in Speech Audiometry to assess clarity and understanding. These tests are part of a comprehensive approach to ensure early detection and support, helping every child reach their full communication potential.
Common Pediatric Issues
Hearing loss in children can lead to a range of developmental challenges, especially when left undiagnosed or untreated. Even mild hearing loss may interfere with speech and language development, making it harder for children to communicate effectively and engage socially. Common causes include otitis media (middle ear infections), which can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss, and congenital factors, such as genetic syndromes like Down syndrome or Usher syndrome.
Children may also acquire hearing loss from infections like meningitis or measles, head trauma, or exposure to ototoxic medications. In some cases, children may have normal hearing sensitivity but struggle to process sounds correctly, a condition known as central auditory processing disorder. Early detection and intervention are crucial to help children reach developmental milestones and thrive
