Does Hearing Loss Get Worse Over Time?

If you suffer from hearing loss, you may be wondering if your hearing loss will progress over time. This will all depend on what the cause of your hearing loss is.

Aging And Sensorineural Hearing Loss

If you have sensorineural hearing loss, there is damage to your auditory nerve or your inner ear. In some cases, there can be damage to both the auditory nerve and the inner ear. This type of hearing loss will progress over time. If you suffer from age-related hearing loss, your hearing loss can also get worse as time goes on. In some cases, early treatment for hearing loss may prevent very severe hearing loss.

Sudden Hearing Loss

If you have sudden hearing loss that happens all at once or within three days, you may get your hearing back. But this only happens if you get prompt medical treatment. If a loud noise or an untreated infection caused your hearing issues, they will get worse.

Will Hearing Aids Slow Worse Hearing Problems?

If you have issues with your hearing that are not corrected, it will only worsen over time. The parts of the brain that help to process sounds will shrink. This is often known as brain atrophy. When this happens, it can contribute to dementia and depression. This is why it is so important to do everything that you can to protect the hearing that you do have. Hearing aids help to amplify sounds.

This will keep your auditory nerves stimulated and your brain functioning. Your hearing will still get worse. You may need changes to your hearing aids, or you may need a different kind of hearing aid. While this may seem frustrating, technology has come a long way over the years. There are hearing aids that will help you no matter how much progress you have in your hearing issues.

Can Hearing Aids Worsen Your Hearing

Some people report that using hearing aids has made their hearing worse. The only way that this is possible is if your hearing aid is set too loud. This can happen especially with over-the-counter hearing aids. With these hearing aids, a hearing care specialist does not program them.

An audiologist can help you to have good hearing in your ears, without your hearing worsening. Your brain will now process the sounds you hear.

Call Us Today

At Family Hearing Centers, we are here to help you hear better. We know how hearing loss will progress, and can give you tips to protect your residual hearing. Our team of hearing care specialists will work with you. We can show you what hearing aids will work best for your form of hearing loss. We will show you how to clean them, work them, and answer any questions you may have.