Hearing FAQs
Almost everyone will experience tinnitus at some point in their life, but how each individual experiences it is different. If you hear a buzzing, ringing, humming, whistling, whooshing, or other sound that is not externally present, you may have tinnitus. Tinnitus itself is not a hearing disorder, but rather a symptom of another issue. The first step to addressing tinnitus is with a hearing evaluation.
While hearing aids will help you hear better in difficult listening situations and with more clarity, they won’t restore your hearing back to what it was. Once you have sensorineural hearing loss, it is irreversible. However, hearing aids can greatly help you by providing your ears and your brain with the sounds around you.
Hearing aids have an average lifespan of 3-5 years, depending on how well you care for them. New technology is released around the 3–5-year mark, which is when many patients upgrade their devices to take advantage of the new technology. If you take good care of your hearing aids they should last you for many years.
To reduce your risk of hearing loss, it’s important to protect your ears! Avoid loud noise, wear hearing protection, and visit Santa Clarita Hearing Center for annual hearing screenings.
Hearing loss can have many causes, the most common ones include:
- Aging
- Genetics
- Loud noise exposure
- Head/ear trauma
- Ototoxic medications
- Health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes
When left untreated, yes, hearing loss has been linked to increased risk of cognitive decline. Addressing hearing loss early may help reduce this risk. Regular hearing check-ups are important, especially since untreated hearing loss can lead to social withdrawal and cognitive decline.
