Treatments for Hearing Loss
The goal of treatment for hearing loss is to improve hearing as much as possible. The kinds of treatment used depend on the type of hearing loss and the underlying cause. Conductive hearing loss can often be corrected by medical or surgical treatment. Most types of sensorineural hearing loss are permanent and cannot be corrected medically or surgically, but hearing can be improved with hearing aids and assistive devices. Infrequently, sudden sensorineural hearing loss can be treated with high dose steroids.
Treatment may involve the following:
Medical TreatmentSurgeryHearing AidsAssistive DevicesCochlear ImplantCommunication SkillsReferences
The balance center. The University of Pennsylvania Health System website. Available at:
http://www.pennmedicine.org/ent/services/balance.
Hearing loss. Mayo Clinic website. Available at:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00172. Accessed August 10, 2005.
Hearing loss. NIH SeniorHealth, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders website. Available at:
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/hearingloss/hearinglossdefined/01.html. Accessed August 10, 2005.
Isaacson JE, Vora NM. Differential diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss.
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2003;68:1125-1132.
Otosclerosis and stapedectomy. Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary website. Available at:
http://www.masseyeandear.org/for-patients/patient-guide/patient-education/diseases-and-conditions/otosclerosis/.
Stapedectomy for otosclerosis.
Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center website. Available at:
http://www.entcolumbia.org/stape.html.