Q: What causes hearing impairment?

A: Hearing impairment is caused by many factors including allergies, drugs, genetics, age, tumors, middle ear infections, excessive exposure to environmental noise, birth defects and traumatic injury.

Q: Are all hearing losses the same?

A: No. There are two basic types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural. Conductive hearing loss may be caused by excessive ear wax or fluid in the ear. These conditions should be treated by a physician. Yet, other forms of conductive losses may be helped with a hearing aid. Sensorineural loss is usually caused by damage to the cochlea or auditory nerve. Hearing aids most often offset this type of hearing loss.

Q: What are the implications of hearing loss?

A: If left untreated, hearing loss can severely impact individuals' personal and professional lives by depriving them of the ability to communicate efficiently.

Q: Will a hearing aid improve hearing?

A: Hearing aids amplify sound and make it easier to participate in all kinds of listening situations, whether at work or at leisure. Although hearing aids will not restore natural hearing ability or cure damage, hearing aids do enable many people to hear better.