Can Your Hearing Improve?

At Texan Renew Hearing Center, our specialists are well-versed in hearing testing, hearing aid evaluations, fittings and repairs. We understand that hearing loss can happen for a number of different reasons, and one of the most common questions we get is “can my hearing improve over time?”

It depends on the type of hearing loss

There are several different types of hearing loss that we regularly see at Texan Renew Hearing Center. Some types of hearing loss, such as those caused by conductive hearing loss, your hearing can actually improve over time. This is because conductive hearing loss is generally caused by an ear infection, and these are most common in infants and young teenagers.

This type of hearing loss can be treated because the root cause is the infection, not the structure of your ear. No matter how the infection is treated, it can restore your hearing once dealt with. This could require surgery or it could require just medicine. Either way, it will be resolved permanently once the infection has cleared.

Conductive hearing loss can also be caused by allergies, otosclerosis or even cholesteatoma. Again, these can be medically managed or improved, which will ultimately improve your hearing as well.

Many types of hearing loss cannot be improved

Unfortunately, sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss and is usually the result of the sensory hair cells in the cochlea dying. This means that you’re physically losing access to your hearing and it’s not being obstructed by something like an infection. In this case, you cannot restore your hearing over time and there are currently no operations or methods to grow these sensory hair cells back.

These hair cells are often destroyed by noise, medications, infections, disease or even just aging. Once the sensory hair cells are damaged, they can’t be restored and it can also be a hereditary condition that affects your ears.

In this case, the only way to improve your hearing is to actually use hearing aids. Finding the right hearing aid is crucial to communicating with the world around you again. From devices that sit inside the canal to those worn behind the ear, your hearing instrument specialist can recommend the best solution for your specific needs.

Preventing permanent hearing loss

There are some factors that cannot be resolved an, as a result, will permanently damage your hearing no matter what you do. However, some causes of sensorineural hearing loss, such as exposure to loud noises or vitamin deficiencies, can be avoided.

You’ll want to start using earplugs or earmuffs whenever you’re exposed to loud noises. Even something as simple as the mowing the lawn could slowly damage your hearing if you’re exposed to the loud noises for a long period of time. As a result, you’ll want to wear some kind of earplugs to prevent the loud noises from damaging those sensory hair cells. If you’re going to a club, a concert or even work in a construction site, then it’s also a good idea to wear some kind of hearing protection.

Lastly, it’s a good idea to look at your neural, cardiovascular and metabolic health. Our hearing is generally linked to our overall health and it’s vital that you focus on having a healthy diet, getting regular exercise and ensuring you get enough vitamins and minerals to help keep your hearing healthy. While it cannot restore your hearing, it will certainly reduce the rate at which we lose our sensory hair cells due to the natural aging process.

Detection is also essential to preserving your hearing health. Putting off treatment for hearing loss can cause further deterioration of your hearing ability, as well as other conditions like cognitive decline. Having your hearing tested as soon as you notice symptoms of hearing loss is the best way to stay ahead of this condition.

We know that hearing loss can be difficult to cope with, especially if you’re told that it’s permanent and cannot be reversed. Fortunately, our hearing instrument specialists at Texan Renew Hearing Center will be more than happy to help you look for the perfect pair of hearing aids that will restore your hearing and help you live a life of independence once again.

Simply contact us at (512) 667-6904 or schedule an appointment with our online form to get in touch with us. Our hearing instrument specialists will help you examine your hearing with a test to help you determine the perfect solution to help you hear easily again.