Hearing Loss Explained for the Greater St. Petersburg Area Residents

Dr. Susan E. Terry and her professional team specialize in the non-medical treatment of hearing loss. They offer individuals from surrounding communities the chance to improve their hearing by offering state-of-the-art hearing technology, thorough examinations, and exceptional personal service.

About 10 percent of Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss, from slight impairments to complete deafness. Hearing loss affects:

• 1 out of every 25 children
• 1 out of every 14 adults aged 18 to 44
• 1 out of every 7 adults aged 45 to 65
• 1 out of every 3 adults over age 65

There are several hearing loss solutions offered at Broadwater Hearing Care. We will work with you and your family to determine the appropriate treatment for your hearing loss. It is important to understand the types and causes of hearing loss as well as general warning signs. We invite you to read the following facts about hearing loss and how it can affect you, then take a short test to determine if you are a candidate for our comprehensive hearing loss evaluation.

• Hearing Loss Types
• Warning Signs
• Hearing Loss Test

Types of Hearing Loss

In the typical case of hearing loss, the person is unable to hear sounds at normal levels. Someone with moderate hearing loss might not hear sounds until 45 or 50 decibels, which is about the level of conversational speech. There are several types of hearing loss, including:

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss involves damage to the inner ear or auditory nerves. It can be caused by several factors, including disease, birth injury, viral and bacterial infections, genetics, head trauma, exposure to loud noise, and aging. Though this hearing loss is permanent, it can be substantially corrected with hearing aids. Broadwater Hearing Care offers the latest hearing aid technology to help correct sensorineural hearing loss.

If you are suffering from sensorineural hearing loss, contact Broadwater Hearing Care today.

Conductive Hearing Loss

In cases of conductive hearing loss, the problem lies in the outer or middle ear. There are several conditions that may cause conductive hearing loss, including fluid in the middle ear, impacted earwax, a punctured eardrum, and ear infections. Conductive hearing loss can be effectively treated medically or surgically. Susan E. Terry, doctor of audiology, will help you determine the treatment that is right for you.

Central Auditory Processing

Central Auditory Processing (CAP) problems are primarily seen in children, though some adults may experience this type of hearing loss as well. A CAP disorder is different from the types of hearing loss described above. This disorder does not affect hearing sensitivity, nor is the person's ability to understand speech in easy conditions affected. A CAP patient has great difficulty understanding rapid speech or speech in noisy environments.

CAP deficits in children may disappear as the child develops, though sometimes they do not diminish with maturation, in which case CAP problems can be seen throughout adulthood. A primary treatment for this type of hearing loss is auditory training and rehabilitation.

If you believe you are experiencing hearing loss like the types described above, please contact audiologist Susan E. Terry today. We offer hearing loss solutions for individuals from St. Petersburg, Gulfport, and surrounding areas.

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Warning Signs

For most people, hearing loss is something that occurs gradually, over time. The warning signs are usually the same for all types of hearing loss:

• Speech once easily heard is difficult to understand
• Everyday activities are pursued less often
• You need speech to be repeated frequently
• The television, radio, etc. is noticeably too loud for family and friends
• Relationships are strained

As a result of hearing loss, life can become less enjoyable. Therefore, the decision to invest in better hearing is one of the most important you will ever make. That's where audiologist Susan E. Terry can help. Please contact Broadwater Hearing Care today for more information on what we can do to help you with your hearing problems.

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Hearing Loss Test

We invite you to take this simple test to help determine if you have hearing loss.

• Do you have difficulty understanding speech in a group of people?
• Do you often ask that statements, questions, and directions be repeated?
• Do you hear people speaking, but have difficulty understanding the words?
• Must others ever raise their voices or move closer to help you hear them?
• Do you have to turn the TV volume louder than normal to hear clearly?
• Do you ever have to concentrate so much to listen that you tire from it?
• Do you avoid social situations like restaurants or public gatherings?
• Do you have difficulty understanding conversations in the car?
• Do you have difficulty understanding conversations on the telephone?
• Has your hearing loss affected relationships at home or performance at work?

If you answered "YES" to three or more of these questions, we urge you to contact Broadwater Hearing Care today for a comprehensive hearing loss evaluation and personal demonstration of our New Digital Hearing Technology.

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