Are you living with hearing loss? An ENT doctor can evaluate and treat your hearing loss improve your quality of life. Several options are available for hearing loss. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the hearing impairment. West Coast ENT Head and Neck Surgery (offices in Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Oxnard, and Camarillo, CA) offers state-of-the art treatments for ear, nose and throat problems. Read on to learn about some treatment options for hearing loss.

Medical Treatment: Medication and surgery is often recommended for many types of hearing issues, particularly conductive hearing loss. Some of the common causes of conductive hearing loss are earwax blocking the ear canal and fluid in the ear. In cases where there is a bacterial infection of the middle ear, antibiotics are often prescribed. Conductive hearing loss may also be caused by a problem with the bones of the middle ear, which, in some cases, is treated with surgery.

Hearing Aids: If you're diagnosed with hearing loss that cannot be treated medically, your doctor will help determine which hearing aids would be most appropriate. Hearing aids are electronic devices designed to improve your hearing. Small enough to wear behind or in your ear, they make sounds louder. Open fit hearing devices are currently the most popular, due to fit and features offered.

Cochlear Implants: Cochlear implants are small, medical devices that can improve the hearing of patients with a severe hearing impairment. This device consists of an external component that is placed behind your ear and a second component that is surgically implanted under your skin. Within several months of use, most patients with cochlear implants make considerable gains in understanding speech.

Assistive Devices: In some cases, alerting or hearing assistive devices may be recommended instead of, or in addition to, hearing aids. Signaling or Text Display Devices are designed to convert sound or keystrokes into vibratory or visual stimulus, or into written text. Assistive Listening Devices are designed to enhance the sound that is received by picking up the sound closer to its source. This reduces the effects of distance, reverberation, and noise and transmits sound to the ears or hearing aids.

If you want to live well with hearing loss, contact West Coast ENT Head and Neck Surgery right now to schedule a consultation with one of our ENT doctors in Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, or Simi Valley. We will ensure you receive the best care and a solution specific to your individual needs!