If you find yourself wanting to turn the volume up instead of down, you may be one of the millions suffering sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss affects most people gradually, increasing with age or prolonged exposure to excessive noise. The condition is rarely correctable by surgery, leaving hearing aids as the only solution. Rarely correctable by medicine or surgery, making hearing aids the usual treatment option. Occurs when sound from the outside world fails to reach the inner ear.
Causes can include earwax impaction or perforation of the timpanic membrane.
Often reversible with medication or surgery. But new technology may soon change that picture for those with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss. Dr. Jack Shohet, director of neurotology for UCI Medical Center, is one of a handful of surgeons throughout the U.S. now able to implant a new middle ear hearing device. It s an exciting time to be in this field of medicine. There are some highly remarkable alternatives to the standard hearing aid emerging.