Hearing Conditions
The physicians and highly trained associates at ENT Clinic of Iowa, P.C. are dedicated to providing you and your family with exceptional care. Your hearing is a precious asset; one that we can help you protect, and even improve. If you have been looking for caring hearing professionals in West Des Moines, then we encourage you to learn more about us. We provide the hearing services you need for every stage of life.
We use an evidence-based approach to our practice. This means that we combine the latest scientific research with professional expertise for hearing loss diagnostics and treatment. The unique qualifications of our physicians, staff, and consulting audiologist allow us to provide comprehensive care for the complete spectrum of hearing conditions and treatments.
Types of Hearing Loss
The two most common types of hearing loss are a conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss indicates there is a problem in the external auditory canal (outer ear), ear drum, or the bones of the middle ear. This type of hearing loss may be corrected by medication and/or surgical intervention. If the hearing loss cannot be corrected, amplification or hearing aids may be recommended. Sensorineural hearing loss indicates a problem in the organ of hearing or nerve of hearing. This can include damage to the cochlea (inner ear), auditory nerve, or the auditory centers of the brain. This type of hearing loss may warrant amplification or hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and/or communication therapies.
Hearing Loss Symptoms
If you or your child experiences one or more of the following symptoms, contact ENT Clinic of Iowa for a complete evaluation. You can also fill out our preliminary hearing health questionnaire before you visit to give us an idea of whether or not you may be hearing impaired.
- You have had a sudden change in hearing
- You frequently ask people to repeat what they’ve said
- You need the television or radio louder than others do
- You experience increased difficulty understanding conversation in the presence of background noise
- You hear better in one ear than the other
- You have to strain to hear
- You have ringing or buzzing in your ears
- Delayed speech and language development in children
Common Hearing Loss Myths
Hearing only affects older people and is a regular sign of aging—The age group with the highest rates of hearing loss is actually opposite of what most people think. The majority of people with hearing loss, at 65%, are under the age of 65. Hearing loss affects all age groups, and over 6 million individuals in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 44 experience it.
My doctor would have told me if my hearing was compromised—In actuality, only about 13% of physicians do routine hearing-loss screens during a physical. Most people with hearing loss can still hear relatively well in quiet, isolated environments like a doctor’s office, so it can be almost impossible for your regular doctor to gauge the extent of your hearing loss. Hearing loss can be difficult to diagnose unless you’re looking for it, which is why a visit to the specialists ENT Clinic of Iowa can give you the answers you need.