Hearing Loss Specialist
-
- Tweet
North Shore ENT
Alexander Sorin, M.D., F.A.C.S.
ENT & Otology located in New Hyde Park, NY
Hearing loss can drastically affect your performance at work, home, or school and impact your quality of life. If you or a loved one experiences difficulty hearing, North Shore ENT in New Hyde Park, New York, provides patient-centered care for adult and pediatric hearing disorders. To discuss your conditions with board-certified otolaryngologist Alexander Sorin, MD, FACS, call the office or book your appointment online today.
Hearing Loss Q & A
What causes hearing loss?
Hearing loss refers to changes in your ability to hear or interpret sounds. In many cases, hearing loss occurs gradually as a result of age or chronic exposure to loud sounds. In the United States, hearing loss affects one out of every two adults over the age of 75. Hearing loss can also occur suddenly, which requires emergent management to attempt to restore hearing.
Although some people experience hearing loss as a result of aging, others suffer from underlying conditions that impair hearing functions. Common causes of hearing loss include:
- Gradual or sudden damage to the inner ear
- Earwax
- Infections
- Ruptured eardrum
- Otosclerosis
Certain factors increase your risk of ear damage or hearing loss, like genetics and occupational noises. Abnormal growth and other abnormalities can also cause hearing loss. If you experience muffling of speech or difficulty understanding words, North Shore ENT can help you determine the cause of your condition.
What is otosclerosis?
Otosclerosis is a condition that causes abnormal bone growth in the middle ear. It interferes with the ability of sound to pass through the middle ear to the inner ear.
Otosclerosis starts young and is primarily determined by genetics. The condition can develop as early as age 10, with symptoms becoming more severe in your 30s.
Having a history of conditions like measles, infections, and stress fractures to the middle ear also increase your risk for otosclerosis.
How is hearing loss treated?
There are many ways to address hearing loss. The first step is determining the cause of your condition. To develop your diagnosis, Dr. Sorin begins with an examination of your ears to check for signs of inflammation or infection. He then performs hearing tests like a whisper or audiometer test. In some cases, an X-Ray or CT scan is needed to determine the cause of hearing loss.
Treatments for hearing loss include:
Removing blockage
Excess earwax is a common cause of impaired hearing. Addressing hearing loss caused by built-up earwax is simple. Dr. Sorin uses suction or a specialized tool with a loop at the end to remove excess ear wax.
Hearing aids
Hearing aids help restore hearing in patients who have inner ear damage. There are a variety of options when it comes to hearing aids. You and Dr. Sorin discuss your condition and the best option for addressing your hearing loss.
Corrective surgery
There are several surgical procedures used to repair and restore hearing. A mastoidectomy, for example, removes damaged parts of the mastoid bone, the bone that sits between your ear and skull.
Corrective surgery is also used to address otosclerosis and other abnormalities of the eardrums and bones. Some patients who experience frequent ear infections require surgery to improve drainage.
Steroid injections.
In cases of sudden hearing loss of unknown origin, improvement depends on immediate diagnosis and management. Treatment options such as oral steroids or injection of steroids into the ear in an office setting may be the best chance at recovery.
To speak with Dr. Sorin about your hearing loss, book an appointment at North Shore ENT by phone or online today.
