How your ENT specialist in Wayne, New Jersey can help when you are losing your hearing

If you think you might be dealing with hearing loss, it can be scary. You don’t have to deal with it all by yourself. Your ear, nose, and throat specialist can help. Dr. Frank L. Kardos in Wayne, New Jersey offers state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options to help with hearing loss.

How do you know you may be dealing with hearing loss? One way to know for sure is to have a hearing test. There are some signs of hearing loss you can recognize. You should schedule a hearing test if you notice:

• Only hearing muffled sound and speech
• Difficulty picking out individual words from background noise
• Needing people to speak more loudly and slowly
• Wanting to avoid social events and conversations

If you think you may be dealing with hearing loss, you’re not alone. Over 30% of adults over the age of 65 are hearing impaired, according to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Seniors aren't the only ones affected. 14% of adults aged 45-64 have some degree of hearing loss too, and nearly 8 million adults between ages 18 and 44 are also experiencing hearing loss.

Every adult 50 years old or younger should schedule a hearing screening every 10 years; adults over the age of 50 should schedule a hearing screening every 3 years.

Dr. Kardos offers a wide range of hearing loss treatment options, including a full range of hearing aids for you to choose from. Consider:

• (Completely in the canal) or CIC hearing aids, which fit entirely inside the ear canal
• (In the ear) or ITE hearing aids, which loop over your outer ear or the lower part of your ear
• (Behind the ear) or BTE hearing aids, which hook over the top portion of your ear
• Cochlear implants, to treat severe hearing loss

Hearing loss can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. Your ear, nose, and throat specialist can help bring sound back to your life. To find out more about solutions for hearing loss, call Dr. Frank L. Kardos in Wayne, New Jersey at (973) 956-1200. Call now!

Hearing is one of the most common parts of the natural aging process. However, hearing loss that’s noise-induced is likewise increasingly becoming common, says the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. They also state that about 15% of adults in the United States aged between 20 to 69 years olds and 5% of kids over the age of six have noise-induced hearing loss.

Here at Frank L. Kardos, MD in Wayne, NJ, our doctors, Dr. Frank Kardos and Dr. Gary Hilt, can screen and diagnose hearing loss and suggest treatments that will be most effective to your condition.

Common Causes of Hearing Loss

The top causes of hearing loss include aging and overexposure to noise. Noise-induced hearing loss could happen anytime you’re exposed to extremely loud noises. It usually develops because of repeated and constant exposure to very loud sounds, however, it’s possible for permanent hearing loss to develop even following one episode. These sustained or sudden loud sounds could significantly damage the inner ears’ tiny hairs, which are crucial to hearing. These hairs are not capable of regenerating so you need to do all that you can to protect them.

The world could be a very loud place and people often engage in common activities that provide damaging and sustained noise exposure. These activities typically involve loud music, power tools, heavy machinery, gunfire, and lawn equipment. Unfortunately, most noise-induced hearing loss cases are irreversible and permanent. This is why reducing your risk of developing the condition is immensely vital.

Preventive Measures to Reduce Your Risk of Hearing Loss

• Wear ear protection that fits properly.
• Limit or avoid your exposure to excessively loud noises.
• Limit the volume or headphones or earphones, particularly for kids.
• Always keep ear protection with you. A simple yet effective option is foam ear inserts since these are portable and can be easily stored in your pocket or purse for unexpected noise exposure.
• Refrain from exacerbating potential damage by wearing earphones or headphones and turning up your music so that you could hear it over heavy machinery or a lawnmower.
• Visit your ENT doctor in Wayne, NJ, if you experience sudden hearing loss, consistent pain, and/or ringing in your ear.

When to Undergo a Hearing Test

A hearing screen for most individuals at age 50 will suffice as a preventive measure. You should then get screened every five or 10 years after, depending on your specific circumstances. If hearing loss, however, is identified, you should visit your ENT doctor yearly for checkups.
 

For Any Concerns or Questions on Hearing Loss, Give Us a Call

Call (973) 956-1200 to reach Frank L. Kardos, MD, here in Wayne, NJ, and arrange your consultation with Dr. Frank Kardos or Dr. Gary Hilt.

Do you find yourself missing half of what people are telling you or straining to hear conversations on the TV? If so, you very well could be dealing with some type of hearing loss. If you’re concerned about this issue, Dr. Frank Kardos, your ENT doctor here in our clinic at Wayne, NJ, can help diagnose your condition and recommend the best possible treatment options for you.

What Exactly is Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is characterized by the decreased ability to hear sounds and can occur in only one or both ears. Deafness, or total hearing loss, is very rare, but some degree of hearing loss is completely normal, as you grow older. According to the NIDCD, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, approximately 25% of individuals aged between 65 and 74 years old will develop hearing loss. Common hearing loss causes include the following:

• Genetic abnormality
• Infections
• Congenital birth defect
• Toxicity
• Aging
• Trauma or injury to the head or ear
• Fluid or earwax buildup in the ear
• Chronic exposure to extremely loud sounds

How is Hearing Loss Treated?

When determining the most suitable hearing loss treatment, we will closely consider which exact type of hearing loss you’ve sustained. Generally speaking, hearing loss types include sensorineural hearing loss, mixed hearing loss, and conductive hearing loss. During a consultation at our Wayne office, we will the following factors into consideration:

• The severity or degree of hearing loss
• The cause
• Your age
• Your lifestyle
• Your communication requirements
• Your budget
• Your cosmetic preferences

You can undergo medical or surgical treatment, depending on the exact kind of hearing loss you have, particularly if you have conductive hearing loss. However, the most common and effective treatment for hearing loss is hearing aids. These are available in a myriad of styles, and Dr. Kardos is happy to help you select the one best for your situation.

Living Well with Hearing Loss

You don’t need to live a silent life or withdraw from your friends and family just because you have hearing loss. After all, 9n most cases, treatments can help restore or improve your hearing. If you’re still not used to your decreased hearing ability and have yet to receive treatment, don’t hesitate to ask people to speak a bit louder and slow down when talking. Pay closer attention to who’s speaking and limit background noise so that you can hear and communicate with people more easily.

Call Us

Concerned about hearing loss? Book a consultation with Dr. Frank Kardos here at our clinic in Wayne, NJ, by dialing (973) 956-1200 as soon as possible. Remember, the earlier you receive a diagnosis, the sooner you can begin treatment and take back your hearing.

When you begin to lose your hearing, you may not notice it at first. As the loss increases, however, both you and your family will observe some changes. Your Wayne, NJ, ENT physician, Dr. Frank Kardos, helps patients pinpoint the nature of their hearing problems and discover the best path to better hearing. Are you struggling with this common health issue?

Expressions of hearing loss

Healthy Hearing reports that 15 percent of American adults have some type of difficulty with their hearing. They may experience difficulty hearing conversations, constantly hear a buzzing or roaring sound (tinnitus), or have to regularly turn up the TV volume. As symptoms escalate, hearing loss sufferers frequently withdraw from social situations, leading to depression and issues with cognition.

Causes of hearing loss

Many factors contribute to hearing loss. Most people believe it is part of the natural aging process, and while research bears this out, other things play a role, too. Examples are:

• Repeated and prolonged exposure to loud noise
• Injury
• Ototoxicity (prescription drugs)
• Diabetes
• Head injury
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Measles, mumps, and shingles

Additionally, simple mechanical problems may occur within the structure of the ear itself, including:

• Accumulation of wax
• Eardrum perforation
• Fracture of the bones in the middle ear
• Fluid build up in the middle ear (from frequent infections)

Dr. Kardos will review your symptoms, inspect your ear canal with a lighted otoscope and recommend some testing with his in-house audiologist. As needed, he may advise imaging, such as an MRI, to rule out tumors associated with the acoustic nerve and other structural abnormalities.

Common treatments at our Wayne office

Much depends on whether you have sensori-neural, conductive (involving the outer, middle, or inner ear structure) or a mixed hearing problem. Hearing aids are a great help, and with today's digital technology, they are smaller and more effective than ever.

Fluid drainage surgery may be an option as are antibiotics for infection and ear wax removal. Some tumors of the auditory nerve (acoustic neuromas) may be surgically removed or simply observed for signs of change. Dr. Kardos and his team will formulate the care plan most effective for you and your type of hearing loss.

Contact us!

If you are experiencing hearing issues or it's simply time for a routine audiology check-up, please contact your otolaryngologist, Dr. Frank Kardos, at his Wayne, NJ, office. The number is (973) 956-1200!

Hearing loss is very common, especially among adults over age 65, but it affects people of all ages. According to statistics, roughly 20% of Americans (approximately 48 million people) experience some degree of hearing loss, and 25% of adults have experienced tinnitus (ringing the ears) in at least one ear. There are a number of causes and degrees of hearing loss, and portion of children and adults affected by certain types of hearing loss may benefit from assistive devices like hearing aids. Dr. Frank Kardos and Dr. Gary Hilt offer a range of treatment options for hearing loss in Wayne, NJ.

Hearing Loss Diagnosis and Treatment in Wayne, NJ

The most common causes of hearing loss are generally age-related wear and tear, prolonged exposure to loud noises and sounds, damage to the inner or middle ear, wax buildup (usually temporary), and congenital (present at birth) defects. Although most forms of hearing loss are not reversible, there are a number of options available to help children and adults improve their ability to communicate and enjoy a better quality of life.

How is Hearing Loss Treated?

If you or your child is experiencing hearing loss, there are several options available depending on the underlying cause and severity, as well as which part of the ear is affected (inner, middle, or outer ear). The most common causes of hearing disturbances and loss include:

• Wax buildup (outer ear)
• Ear infection (outer or middle ear)
• Tumor or blockage (outer or middle ear)
• Fluid buildup (middle ear)
• An injury (middle or inner ear)
• Nerve and tissue damage and degeneration (middle or inner ear)
• Birth defect

Hearing problems caused by issues in the outer ear are generally temporary, and can usually be treated with medication if there is an infection, or removal of wax buildup (see an ENT doctor to avoid the risk of causing an injury). If you are experiencing fluid buildup, the doctor will drain the ear to relieve pressure and remove the fluid. Problems with the inner ear or permanent hearing loss may require a hearing aid or assistive device like a cochlear implant.

Find an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Doctor in Wayne, NJ

For more information about hearing loss prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, contact our office by calling 973-956-1200 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kardos or Dr. Hilt today.