Hearing Loss Q & A
Hearing loss affects about 48 million American adults and children and can develop for various reasons. At Houston Ear Allergy and Rhinology Surgical Associates, a range of hearing loss treatments are available, including hearing aids. Said Sana, DO also specializes in hearing surgery (fellowship-trained) to restore the quality of your hearing so that you can enjoy a higher quality of life.
Call the Conroe or Spring, Texas office to schedule a hearing loss consultation or book an appointment online today.
Hearing Loss Q & A
What causes hearing loss?
Hearing loss can develop as a natural result of aging. You can also experience hearing loss at an early age after frequent exposure to loud noises or because of excessive earwax buildup.
There are three types of hearing loss that the providers at Houston Ear Allergy and Rhinology Surgical Associates can address:
• Conductive – hearing loss in the middle or outer ear
• Sensorineural – hearing loss in the inner ear (‘nerve hearing’)
• Mixed – a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss
Typically, you can’t get back any nerve hearing you lose, but with hearing aids and other treatments, Dr. Sana can improve your ability to hear.
When should I seek medical care for hearing loss?
You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Houston Ear Allergy and Rhinology Surgical Associates if you have concerns about your hearing. Symptoms of hearing loss can include:
• Difficulties understanding conversations, especially in noisy situations
• Asking others to speak louder or more slowly
• Needing to turn up the volume of the radio or television
• Avoiding social situations because of difficulties hearing
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
Dr. Sana can meet with you virtually through an online telehealth platform to evaluate your symptoms. He offers in-office ear exams to identify the cause of your hearing issues and also provides hearing tests to assess the severity of hearing loss.
How is hearing loss treated?
Houston Ear Allergy and Rhinology Surgical Associates offers several hearing loss treatments, including:
Earwax removal
During an in-office procedure, Dr. Sana can remove excess earwax buildup from your ear canal without damaging your eardrum or other structures.
Hearing aids
Hearing aids are small electronic devices you wear in or behind your ear. The devices amplify sounds in your environment so you can hear conversations, music, and other sounds more clearly.
Hearing surgery
Hearing surgery may be an option if you have hearing loss that results from damaged bones in your middle ear or a hole in your eardrum. Dr. Sana also performs ossiculoplasty and stapedectomy procedures to place a prosthetic middle ear bone.
With his fellowship training in advanced ear surgeries, Dr. Sana can successfully repair even the most delicate parts of your ear with high precision to improve your hearing ability.