- Hearing concerns cover a range of issues beyond hearing loss itself including tinnitus, dizziness and balance problems, and earwax buildup. Each have their own signs and effects on daily life.
- Left unaddressed, these hearing concerns tend to compound: hearing loss can strain communication and relationships, tinnitus can disrupt sleep and concentration, and balance issues raise fall risk, so early attention prevents small problems from becoming bigger ones.
- Harbor City Hearing Solutions offers comprehensive hearing concern evaluations in Melbourne, FL and Rockledge, FL.
There are a number of common hearing concerns that can impact an individual’s quality of life. Some of the most common include hearing loss, tinnitus, earwax buildup, auditory processing disorder, and sensorineural hearing loss.
Hearing Concerns We Address at Harbor City Hearing Solutions
Harbor City Hearing Solutions provide professional audiology services to help manage concerns affecting hearing and balance.
As experienced audiologists in Melbourne, FL, we are committed to providing world-class, comprehensive audiology services that cover hearing loss, hearing aids, assistive listening devices, dizziness, and balance, hearing screening and testing, noise and hearing loss prevention, tinnitus, and more.
Hearing Loss
There are various types of hearing problems but hearing loss is one of the most common.
Hearing loss is one of the most common issues, affecting millions of people worldwide. It can be caused by a number of factors, including exposure to loud noise, aging, and underlying medical conditions. Hearing loss can make it difficult to communicate with others and enjoy everyday activities.
Three Types of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is categorized into three major types: conductive, sensorineural, and mixed.
- Conductive hearing loss happens when sound waves are unable to travel through the ear canal to the eardrum or middle ear bones. This type of hearing loss is often caused by a buildup of earwax, an infection in the middle ear, or a foreign object in the ear canal.
- Sensorineural hearing loss transpires when the inner ear or auditory nerve gets damaged. This type of hearing loss is usually permanent and can be caused by sudden or prolonged exposure to extremely loud sounds, aging, or certain medical conditions.
- Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is another common hearing concern, characterized by a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears. It can be caused by exposure to loud noise, certain medications, and other health conditions. Tinnitus can be annoying and disruptive, making it difficult to concentrate or sleep.
What is the main cause of tinnitus?
There is no one main cause of tinnitus. It can be caused by a number of factors, including exposure to loud noise, certain medications, and other health conditions.
Earwax Buildup
Earwax is a natural substance that helps protect the ears from dirt, dust, and other debris. However, too much earwax can cause hearing loss.
Earwax buildup can also make it difficult to clean the ears and can lead to infection.
How do you know if you have earwax buildup?
If you are experiencing hearing loss, pain, or discharge from your ears, you may have earwax buildup.
Symptoms of earwax buildup may include:
- A feeling of fullness in the ear
- Ear pain
- Progressive hearing loss
- Ringing in the ear
- A feeling of itchiness in the ear(s)
- Discharge coming from the ear
- Dizziness
Harbor City Hearing Solutions provides professional earwax removal in Melbourne, FL.
Auditory Processing Disorder
Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a condition that affects the way the brain processes sound. APD can make it difficult to understand speech, especially in noisy environments. It can also cause problems with hearing, balance, and coordination.
How can you tell the difference between ADHD and APD?
The main distinction between ADHD and APD is that people with APD have more difficulties with tasks that require hearing. For example, they may be unable to complete a job that requires listening to a speaker or instructor but will have less trouble with a test of the same ability that necessitates reading.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a type of hearing loss that occurs when there is damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve. SNHL can be caused by aging, exposure to loud noise, certain medications, and other health conditions.
What is the most common cause of sensorineural hearing loss?
Aging is the most common reason for sensorineural hearing loss in adults. When small hair cells are destroyed, this type of hearing loss affects the inner ear. The cells do not regenerate, so the damage is irreversible.
Ménière’s Disease
Ménière’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can cause hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. Ménière’s disease is usually caused by a buildup of fluid in the inner ear.
What are the four symptoms to look out for in Meniere’s disease?
- Recurring episodes of vertigo
- Hearing loss
- Ringing in the ear
- Feeling of fullness in the ear
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and you observe an increase in frequency, it is highly recommended that you seek medical attention right away.
Signs it is time to get your hearing checked
If you’re straining to follow conversation more than you used to, that’s the sign that matters. Most people notice the effort before they notice the loss. Here’s what that effort looks like day to day.
1. The TV keeps getting louder. Family members ask you to turn it down, or they’ve quietly started using subtitles.
2. You ask people to repeat themselves. Especially women’s and children’s voices, which sit in the higher pitches that tend to go first.
3. Restaurants wear you out. You can hear that people are talking, but the words get lost in the clatter and background noise.
4. You miss the doorbell, the microwave, or your phone ringing. High-pitched alerts stop registering before speech does.
5. There’s ringing, buzzing, or hissing in your ears. Tinnitus and hearing loss show up together frequently, and both are worth evaluating.
6. Phone calls are harder than face-to-face. Without lips and facial expressions to fill the gaps, the difficulty becomes obvious.
7. Your family has said something. People close to you usually spot it first. If more than one person has mentioned it, take it seriously.
8. You’re tired after a long conversation. Listening effort is real work. Fatigue at the end of a social evening is one of the most overlooked signs there is.
None of these confirm hearing loss on their own, and some have other causes, including earwax buildup. That’s exactly why testing matters: it separates the fixable from the ongoing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have hearing loss or just need my ears cleaned?
You can’t tell from the outside, and that’s the honest answer. Earwax blockage and sensorineural hearing loss can feel identical from the inside: muffled sound, one ear worse than the other, a full or plugged feeling. An audiologist looks in the ear canal first, clears any blockage, then tests. Wax comes out and hearing comes back the same day for some people.
At what point should I actually book a test?
When you’ve noticed the effort. There’s no threshold you have to cross first. Adults who suspect a change are reasonable candidates for a baseline test, and having that baseline makes any future change far easier to interpret.
Does hearing loss come on suddenly?
Age-related hearing loss builds slowly over years, which is why families notice before patients do. Sudden hearing loss in one ear is different: it’s treated as urgent, and you should be seen right away rather than waiting to see if it clears.
Can I take an online hearing test instead?
An online screener gives you a rough signal, nothing more. It can’t check your ear canal, test bone conduction, or tell you which type of hearing loss you have. Our guide to online hearing tests covers when a screener is enough and when it isn’t.
Professional Audiology Services in Melbourne, FL
At Harbor City Hearing Solutions, your hearing concerns are our concerns. If you are experiencing any of these common hearing concerns, schedule an appointment with Harbor City Hearing Solutions today.
We will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to help improve your hearing and quality of life.
We offer comprehensive hearing healthcare, including diagnostic audiological evaluations, hearing aid evaluations, fittings and repair, custom earmolds, earwax removal, and tinnitus treatment.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!