It’s no secret that hearing loss can impact your life in big ways. It can affect your relationships, your work, your safety, and even your mood.
If you or a loved one has started noticing signs of hearing loss, it’s normal to wonder if it’s possible to reverse the condition. The answer depends on the type and cause of the hearing loss.
During your assessment at Memorial Village Sinus and Hearing, audiologist Dr. Mary "Marty" Lippeatt first determines the source of your hearing loss and then works with Dr. Conrad McCutcheon to create a treatment plan for you. Below, we explain what types of hearing loss can be reversed, which ones can’t, and how we manage both kinds.
Knowing the type of hearing loss you have is the first step. The main types of hearing loss are:
You might develop conductive hearing loss if sound waves can’t travel through your outer or middle ear. It’s often caused by treatable issues such as earwax buildup, infection, or fluid in your ear.
In most cases, conductive hearing loss can be reversed. Depending on what’s causing your hearing loss, you might be able to reverse it through earwax removal, medical treatments (such as antibiotics to treat an ear infection), or, in some cases, surgery.
Tip: Never try to remove excess earwax on your own. Old wives tales and DIY tricks you hear about or find online may do more harm than good, even pushing wax farther into your ear. If you have concerns about earwax buildup, please reach out to our team and we can safely remove it in our office.
This type affects 20% of the global population, marking this as the most prevalent kind of hearing loss. To put that into perspective, that’s 1.5 billion people with sensorineural hearing loss!
You might develop sensorineural hearing loss if your inner ear or auditory nerve becomes damaged, either through aging or exposure to loud noises. Sensorineural hearing loss is often permanent.
Certain occupations are more at risk for sensorineural hearing loss. This is known as occupational hearing loss, but it does fall into the sensorineural hearing loss category.
While this type of hearing loss typically isn’t reversible, treatments like hearing aids and cochlear implants can help improve hearing function. Dr. Lippeatt can get you started with hearing aids. The Memorial Village Sinus and Hearing team offers a variety of hearing aids, including behind-the-ear and completely in-the-ear canal versions.
When you have both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, it’s referred to as mixed hearing loss. Treatment depends on the extent of each type, but conductive components may be reversible with medical intervention.
For example, if you have excess earwax, you may benefit from earwax removal to address the conductive hearing loss and hearing aids to address the sensorineural hearing loss.
Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is a form of sensorineural hearing loss that develops gradually as you get older. It affects 66% of Americans over age 70.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a cure for this type of hearing loss, so it can’t be reversed. However, hearing aids and other assistive listening devices can help you regain much of your hearing.
While reversing hearing loss isn’t always possible, Dr. McCutcheon and Dr. Lippeatt offers a variety of treatments that can help you manage the condition:
Because you can’t always reverse hearing loss, it’s important to do what you can to help prevent it — or at least from exacerbating it. Avoid exposure to loud noises, use hearing protection when necessary, and schedule regular hearing tests to monitor your auditory health.
If you have concerns about your hearing, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Memorial Village Sinus and Hearing team to schedule a hearing evaluation. You can call our Houston, Texas, office at 281-822-3777.
