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Finding an experienced ear doctor in Philadelphia is essential for those in the region with hearing issues. Penn Medicine Becker ENT and Allergy caters to your needs by effectively providing hearing loss prevention and treatment.
Fully enjoying the world around you depends on your ability to experience all of the senses. Hearing problems are not limited to aging individuals. Whether from injury or disease, hearing loss can affect people of all ages.
If you’re experiencing any kind of problem with your hearing, it’s important to contact an ear doctor as soon as possible. The sooner a professional identifies the root of your problem, the shorter the path to better hearing.
When You Should Contact an Audiologist
The reason for contacting an ear doctor is simple: if you experience a decline in hearing, make an appointment. Any change in the quality of your hearing may or may not be accompanied by pain or other symptoms. Regardless, it is vital that you contact an audiologist for an evaluation.
Keep in mind that hearing loss can sometimes be temporary. Exposure to loud sounds may affect your hearing for up to two days after the event. Depending on the duration and intensity, any decline in hearing may disappear without resulting in permanent damage.
However, constant exposure to loud noises can begin to affect your hearing in the long term. If you are constantly in loud environments due to your job, an ear doctor can help you understand the risks to your hearing and effective prevention methods.
Causes of Hearing Loss
Several factors can adversely affect your hearing. Some are obvious but others involve underlying health issues you may not be aware of.
Loud Sounds
Loud noises cause damage to your ear’s ability to function properly. The membranes in the cochlea are sensitive so that they can pick up sound and transfer it to the brain as a message. Prolonged exposure to loud noise makes the hair cells in the ear work too hard.
These cells can experience wear and tear and even die eventually. The damage from loud sounds can continue even after you are no longer exposed to them. That’s why it’s important to avoid loud noises or to take measures to protect the inner ear from trauma.
Head Trauma
Head trauma can cause hearing loss in several ways. From the mechanical operation of the ear to the way the brain interprets sound, head trauma can affect hearing in unpredictable ways. A knowledgeable hearing doctor can perform all the necessary exams to pinpoint the problem.
Infections
Viral infections can affect your hearing by causing fluid to build up in your ear. This fluid build-up interferes with the operation of the eardrum. If left untreated, the bones in the middle ear will begin to lose functionality.
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Autoimmune Disease
An autoimmune disease is a condition where your own body’s defenses attack you. A group of cells, an organ, or a system is mistakenly labeled as an enemy by your immune system. This leads to an internal struggle that can have extremely harmful effects.
Your inner ear is not exempt from being attacked by your immune system. In rare cases, your immune system may attack the inner ear, causing ringing, dizziness, or hearing loss. Philadelphia, PA ear, nose, and throat doctors can help identify and treat these immune-related hearing issues effectively.
Neurological Disorders
Audiology isn’t limited to dealing with hearing problems. Neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and cochlear hydrops can impair hearing but can also affect balance. Nerves are responsible for transferring messages throughout the body and hearing is just one messaging function.
Circulation Issues
If you suffer from blood circulation issues, hearing loss may be a result of them. Your blood vessels supply the ear with the oxygen it needs to function properly. Any disruptions in blood flow will cause your hearing to decline over time.
Keep in mind that behaviors that can worsen blood circulation also affect hearing. Smoking and drugs that burden your circulation issues will only exacerbate your hearing loss.
Audiologist Frequently Asked Questions
Audiology is the study of hearing and balance problems. A hearing doctor makes a diagnosis for your condition by conducting various exams and recommends treatment accordingly. Audiology is constantly evolving to offer advanced solutions for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss issues, balance problems, and tinnitus.
It is estimated that over 12% of people suffer from hearing loss. Statistics show that the older a person is, the greater their chance of having hearing issues. Therefore, two-thirds of people over the age of 75 have hearing issues.
However, it also isn’t uncommon for children to experience hearing problems. With approximately 15% of children aged 6 to 19 experiencing hearing issues, it becomes obvious how widespread the condition is.
Sometimes spotting your own hearing loss can be challenging. You have to be aware of more subtle changes than the inability to hear sound.
People with hearing loss often have to ask others to repeat themselves. Also, they may mishear things that a person across from them is saying. This includes having the impression that the other person is mumbling.
However, not all signs of hearing loss necessarily stem from your point of view. The behavior of those around you can signal that you need to get your ears checked out.
For example, are your friends and family always asking you to turn down the TV? Do they ask you if you’ve had your hearing checked? These are signs that others identify the problem and are trying to let you know about it.
If you experience a constant ringing or annoying buzz in your ears, it may also be time to contact a hearing doctor. You may have tinnitus.
Directions to Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy
Becker ENT & Allergy caters to people from the greater Philadelphia area as well as patients from all over the Northeast. Our office is located at 1740 South Street, Suite 401, Philadelphia, PA 19146.
From the north:
- Take I-95 North and get off at exit 22
- Turn right onto Callowhill St
- Turn left onto N. 15th St
- Use the right lane to turn slightly right into S. 15th St
- Take a right onto Walnut St
- Turn left onto W. Rittenhouse Sq
- Turn right onto S. 19th St
- Take a left onto South St. and you will find the office at 1740 South Street
From the south:
- Take I-95 North past the Philadelphia International Airport
- Continue Southwest on exit 12B. You need to keep right to stay on exit 12B following signs for PA – 291/Cargo City
- Take a right onto PA–291 E./Bartram Ave
- Turn right onto Island Ave
- Use the left two lanes to take a left onto Penrose Ave
- Use the left two lanes to turn left onto S. 26th St
- Continue by merging onto I-76 W. Use exit 346B toward University Ave
- Merge onto S. 34th St.
- Turn right onto Grays Ferry Ave
- Turn left onto S. 20th St
- Take a right onto South St, which will bring you to our office at 1740 South Street
Contact Your Local Hearing Doctor
If you are a resident of Philadelphia or plan on being in the area and need help with hearing or ear issues, contact Becker ENT & Allergy today. To book an appointment with a hearing doctor, visit our contact page and submit our form. You can also call us at 215-671-6330 to speak with a staff member who will arrange an appointment with a top-level ear doctor. We are always happy to answer your questions and get you on your way to solving your hearing issues.
