Hearing Loss

What are the symptoms?
  • Hard to hear softer sounds or higher pitched voices.
  • Increasingly difficult to understand what is said when there is background noise.
  • Ringing, hissing, buzzing.
What’s going on behind the scenes?
There are two major types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

Conductive hearing loss (CHL)
Happens when the ear’s ability to transmit sound from the outer and middle part of the ear into the inner part of the ear is blocked or reduced by things like excessive ear wax, swimmer’s ear infection or fluid, and rupture of the eardrum. There are little bones deep to the eardrum (ossicles) that normally transmit sound. If these bones fail, then it will cause a CHL.

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL)
Happens when the inner ear (cochlea), which turns sound to messages the brain can interpret, gets damaged. This happens because of genetics, natural weakening over time (also known as presbycusis), and exposure to loud noise. Therefore, it is always important to wear hearing protection for any sound exposure more than 80 decibels (about the volume of a noisy restaurant) to reduce sound-related SNHL.
How Tucson ENT can help:
If you have trouble understanding conversations, have worsening ringing in the ears, or have family and friends complaining about your hearing, then please make an appointment with our physicians to explore possible solutions such as hearing aids, Earlens, BAHA, and Adhear. We have full-service audiologists ready to perform comprehensive testing. Some of these problems can be immediately corrected at the time of your visit. Others may need more intensive treatment. If you experience severe loss of hearing within 24 hours, then please seek evaluation for an urgent hearing test within seven days.
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Hearing Loss

East Office

(520) 296-8500

2121 N. Craycroft Rd. Building 5
Tucson, Arizona 85704

Hours

8AM - 12:30PM
1:30PM - 5:00PM
Mon - Fri

East Office Appointment


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Northwest Office

(520) 575-1272

1358 W. Orange Grove Rd.
Tucson, Arizona 85704

Hours

8AM - 12:30PM
1:30PM - 5:00PM
Mon - Fri

Northwest Office Appointment


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Any information provided on this Web site should not be considered medical advice or a substitute for a consultation with a physician. If you have a medical problem, contact your local physician for diagnosis and treatment.