What should you do first if you think you’re losing your hearing?
A new diagnosis of profound hearing loss or Deafness, whether it’s for yourself, your child, or a loved one, can be overwhelming to navigate. Luckily, organizations like Ability Central offer the resources you need to find care for your hearing and understand a diagnosis.
In this article, Ability Central shares the process for hearing loss testing and diagnosis, including the first steps to take after receiving a Deafness diagnosis.
We answer your most pressing questions about Deafness, including:
How do I find a doctor to treat hearing loss or Deafness?
How is Deafness diagnosed? Will my initial diagnosis require further testing?
What treatments are available for people who are Deaf?
What conditions often appear alongside Deafness?
Where can I get more information about hearing loss and Deafness?
How do I find a doctor to treat hearing loss or Deafness?
If you’re worried you may be losing your hearing, your first step is to schedule an appointment with a doctor or specialist. Your primary care physician or family doctor may be able to assess any physical problems with your ears, but it’s likely you’ll be referred to a specialist.
Specialists who diagnose and treat hearing loss include:
Audiologists, medical professionals who use diagnostic testing to pinpoint, evaluate, and measure hearing loss.
Hearing instrument specialists (HIS), state-licensed professionals who evaluate hearing problems and help people find the best hearing aids for their needs.
Otolaryngologists or ENTs (ear, nose, and throat doctors), medical doctors who identify and treat diseases or conditions affecting the head, neck, ears, nose, or throat.
If you have private health insurance through a loved one or employer, your insurance company may be able to refer you to an in-network provider.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out Ability Central’s Service Locator, a searchable database of nonprofits across the country offering services to people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
How is Deafness diagnosed? Will my initial diagnosis require further testing?
Doctors use a variety of tests to diagnose Deafness or profound hearing loss. The most common of these tests are hearing tests.
Hearing tests for Deafness include:
A physical exam of the ear. Doctors look for potential physical causes of hearing loss or Deafness, like a severe wax buildup or other blockage.
An audiometer test. The test administrator plays sounds, tones, and words through headphones, and the person being tested signals what they hear. The goal of this test is to identify the quietest sound you can hear.
A whisper test. In this test, the person covers one ear at a time and responds to audio cues, usually spoken words, at different volumes.
A tuning fork test. Also called Rinne and Weber tests, these tests use a tuning fork (a two-pronged metal rod that creates a resonant sound when struck) to test how well your ears process vibrations and resonance.
A bone conduction test. Usually performed after other tests have indicated hearing loss, a bone conduction test uses a specialized headset called a bone vibrator to test sound response in the inner ear. If you can hear a sound with the headset but not without it, your hearing loss is likely conductive and affects the outer or middle ear. If you can hear the sound equally well with and without the headset—or not at all—your hearing loss is likely sensorineural or mixed.
In addition to hearing tests, doctors may order testing to rule out other conditions that may be contributing to hearing loss.
These tests might include:
An MRI or CT scan
Brain imaging tests
Blood tests
Genetic testing, to look for hereditary conditions like Usher syndrome
Nerve tests, to look for nerve damage and potential sources
What treatments are available for people who are Deaf?
Deafness and hearing loss are usually permanent, although some people may find their hearing improves after an injury heals or they recover from an illness.
In general, however, treatment for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing focuses on maintaining and improving any level of hearing someone still has.
Treatments for Deafness and hearing loss include:
Surgery. Some forms of hearing loss can be treated with surgery. For example, if frequent ear infections damage someone’s hearing, a doctor might insert small tubes in the eardrums to help the ears drain.
Hearing aids. Hearing loss due to inner ear damage may be improved with hearing aids, small wearable devices that amplify sounds. Speak with an audiologist to learn more about the different types of hearing aids and what might be best for your needs.
Cochlear implants. Severe hearing loss that can’t be treated with hearing aids may improve with a cochlear implant, a surgical device that bypasses damaged parts of your ear to directly stimulate the nerves responsible for transmitting sound signals.
What conditions often appear alongside Deafness?
Deafness may be caused by or appear alongside other conditions like:
Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Hearing loss can contribute to rapid cognitive decline, speeding up the symptoms of dementias like Alzheimer’s.
Cogan’s syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the eyes and ears. Cogan’s syndrome can also cause symptoms like dizziness, vision loss, and hearing loss.
Depression and social isolation.
Diabetes.Untreated diabetes or mismanaged blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage that leads to hearing loss.
Heart disease or high blood pressure.
Meniere’s disease, a rare condition that affects the inner ear, causing vertigo, dizziness, and balance problems in addition to hearing loss.
Problems with balance and coordination.
Tinnitus, noises in the ear (like ringing, buzzing, or whooshing) that other people can’t hear.
Usher syndrome, a genetic condition that causes blindness and Deafness (also called Deafblindness).
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with hearing loss or a condition linked to Deafness, get regular checkups from your doctor to keep an eye out for potential co-occurring conditions.
Where can I get more information about hearing loss and Deafness?
For more information on Deafness, see:
For more information on conditions related to Deafness, see:
In addition to the resources on our Portal, Ability Central offers a searchable database of nonprofits across the country. Use the Service Locator tool to find an organization near you offering resources, programs, and support for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
Additional Information
The content provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for legal, medical, or other professional advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date resources, some information may become outdated or incomplete. Always consult with your provider about personal medical concerns.
