I have hearing loss in one ear. Should I get hearing aids?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 23-year-old female who is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 249 pounds. I participated in an auditory processing research study virtually, and my hearing test showed some high-frequency hearing loss. It indicated that my right ear was normal, but my left ear had moderate high-frequency hearing loss (at 4,000 Hz and higher).

The hearing aid specialist who conducted the test said that I would not need hearing aids but should see an ENT to determine if any physical problems are causing my hearing loss. I have been struggling to talk on the phone, have difficulty talking to people in crowded or noisy rooms, and frequently ask my husband to repeat what women say.

Does this mean I should get a hearing aid?

Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I saw your audiogram. As you can see, the hearing has been marked across various loud levels. Your threshold up to 4000 Hz is well within the normal range. Many people experience a dip in high-frequency areas like 6000 Hz (Hertz) and 8000 Hz, but the main range responsible for hearing and understanding speech is from 500 to 4000 Hz, which is all in the normal range.

You have a moderate loss at 6000 Hz, which does not significantly affect your hearing. Even people with normal hearing can have trouble understanding speech or listening. If you are wondering why you were not given hearing aids, the reason is that at this hearing level, there might be two problems if the audiologist prescribes them.

First, the gain could be too much for you and could potentially damage your hearing. Even if you wear them, you might have difficulty adjusting, as normal hearing could make the aids irritating, uncomfortable, too loud, and could lead to headaches and dizziness.

I hope this has helped you. Please feel free to reach me again, in case of further queries.

Thank you.