Severe hearing loss refers to a hearing condition whereby you may be able to hear some sounds, but extremely poorly. You may not be able to hear another person speaking, even if it is their normal voice they are using. It could be that you are only to pick up sounds that are very loud. In this article, we're going to discuss severe hearing loss, including what sort of hearing device is going to be best for you or a loved one.

What causes severe hearing loss?

There are several different causes of severe hearing loss. There are a lot of people that are simply born with severe hearing loss. At the same time, though, this can impact a child or an adult at any stage in their life. It can be long-lasting or brief. It can be in one ear or it can be in two ears. It can also happen over many years or it is something that can occur suddenly. 

Some of the most common causes of severe hearing loss include medications, injury, clogs, diseases, and noise. A lot of people do not realize that a single, very loud noise, such as an explosion or a gunshot, can damage their hearing. This can cause severe hearing damage. There are also several different medical conditions that can put your hearing at risk. This includes a disorder of the inner ear known as Meniere’s disease, as well as rheumatoid arthritis, brain tumors and ear infections. 

Choosing the right sort of hearing device for you

When it comes to severe hearing loss, a lot of people will be advised by their audiologist to opt for an in-the-ear hearing aid, which you will often see advertised as an ITE hearing device. These hearing aids are typically custom made in two different styles. You have half-shell devices, which fill only the lower part of your ear. The other style is a full-shell hearing device, which fills most of the bowl-shaped area of the outer ear. 

When purchasing an in-the-ear hearing device, you are also going to be able to get a few different features that you do not typically get with a smaller style of hearing aid. For example, a lot of these hearing devices are going to come with volume control. Aside from this, these devices tend to be a bit more visible in the ear when compared with some of the smaller options out there. You may also notice that these devices pick up more wind noise when contrasted with smaller devices. Aside from this, ITE devices are susceptible to earwax clogging the speaker. Back to the positives, though; your hearing device will be able to take a larger battery, offering improved battery life. You may also find that these devices are a lot easier to handle as well. 

Book an appointment with an experienced audiologist

If you have severe hearing loss, the best thing to do is book an appointment with an experienced audiologist. They will be able to assess your current hearing damage in order to determine what sort of hearing device is going to be right for you. They will make their recommendations and they will also be able to set-up your device properly. This includes ensuring it fits you comfortably and also programming your hearing device correctly as well.

There are a number of different factors that you can consider when you are looking for the right audiologist. You will want someone who is experienced and has a great reputation in the industry. Take the time to read reviews that have been left by people that have seen the audiologist in question before. After all, you need to make sure that they have a good reputation in the industry. 

When you go for your appointment, do not hesitate to take a notebook with you so that you can make notes about your hearing device, how to use it, and how to clean it and maintain it properly too. This is something that your audiologist will advise you on so that you know how to use and maintain your device properly

Contact Niagara Hearing & Speech for more information

If you need help choosing a hearing device or you are concerned about potential hearing issues, please do not hesitate to contact Niagara Hearing & Speech today for more information. You can contact us at (855) 797-8002.