What is Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss is commonly defined as a decrease in the ability to detect and interpret external sounds. The underlying causes of hearing loss can be genetic, related to aging or illness, caused by exposure to loud noises or certain medicines, or result from head trauma. Our team at The ENT & Allergy Centers of Texas can conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine the specific cause of your hearing loss.
What are the Symptoms of Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss symptoms may be more noticeable to those closest to you than they are to you. Some common signs that may indicate you may need to schedule an appointment with our hearing experts include:
- Ringing in the ear
- Favoring one ear
- Avoiding noisy places such as restaurants or events
- Noticing that sounds around you seem muffled
- Focusing on people’s mouths when they speak to you
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
Children with hearing loss may exhibit symptoms such as frequent lack of focus, speech delay, or difficulty with learning. In the case of infants, hearing loss may present as a lack of startle response to loud noises, or they may not respond to a familiar voice as expected.
