Audiology & Hearing Care in Naples, FL
Understanding Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is a major public health issue, and one of the most common chronic conditions in the U.S., ranking third after arthritis and heart disease.¹ Untreated hearing loss can make it harder to stay connected with the people around you, and in some cases can affect your health and safety.
Many factors can contribute to hearing loss. As you get older, it can be difficult to distinguish age-related hearing loss from hearing loss that occurs for other reasons, such as genetic factors, trauma, or long-term exposure to noise. If you have a hearing loss, you can benefit from early identification, education, and social support as well as the use of hearing aids.
If ongoing hearing difficulty is affecting your personal or social life, our team at Collier Otolaryngology can help.
Hearing-Related Conditions We Treat
Our team evaluates and treats a range of conditions related to hearing health, including:
Meniere's Disease & Hearing Loss
- Meniere's disease is also known as idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops.
- Its cause is not well understood, but it is thought to be an abnormality in the way fluid of the inner ear is regulated.
- It has been reported in nearly all age groups, with men and women equally affected.
- Symptoms can be intermittent
and may be only a minor nuisance or can become disabling. They usually include some or all of the
following
1. ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
2. a feeling of fullness in the ears
3. hearing loss
4. poor equilibrium (dizziness and/or vertigo) - There is no real cure yet
- Treatments for Meniere's
disease help you cope with the symptoms and may include
1. Medications
2. Lifestyle changes
3. Dietary and habit changes
4. Rehab and hearing aids
It's important to see one of our Board Certified Otolaryngologists if you're experiencing symptoms typical of Meniere's disease.
The sooner a diagnosis is made, the sooner we can help improve your life.
Tinnitus and Hearing Loss
Tinnitus (pronounced tin-NY-tus or TIN-u-tus) is commonly described as a ringing in the ears, but it also can sound like roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing. It may be soft or loud, high pitched or low pitched. You might hear it in either one or both ears.
Tinnitus is not a disease. It is a symptom that something is wrong in the auditory system, which includes the ear, the auditory nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain, and the parts of the brain that process sound.
Something as simple as a piece of earwax blocking the ear canal can cause tinnitus. But it can also be the result of a number of health conditions, including hearing loss and Meniere’s Disease. Some people develop tinnitus for no obvious reason.
Most of the time, tinnitus isn't a sign of a serious health problem, although if it's loud or doesn't go away, it can be a source of real physical, mental, and emotional distress.
The first step to address tinnitus is to see one of our Board Certified Otolaryngologists for a physical exam of your head, neck, and ears, and hearing.
What to Expect at a Hearing Exam
If you're experiencing hearing loss, tinnitus, or symptoms of Meniere's disease, a hearing exam is usually the first step toward finding out what's going on. Here's what a typical evaluation includes:
- Case history: Your audiologist will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and any exposure to loud noise that could affect your hearing.
- Physical exam: A quick otoscopic exam checks your ear canal and eardrum for blockages, infection, or other visible issues.
- Hearing tests: You'll listen to a series of tones and words at different volumes and pitches to measure how well you hear across a range of frequencies.
- Results and next steps: Your results help determine whether hearing aids, further testing, or another treatment approach is the right fit for you.
Most hearing exams are quick, painless, and give you clear answers about your hearing health.
Ready to Improve Your Hearing?
Request a No-Obligation Consultation with one of our Board-Certified Otolaryngologists
Schedule a Hearing EvaluationFrequently Asked Questions
What are the signs of hearing loss?
Common signs include frequently asking people to repeat themselves, turning up the volume higher than others prefer, difficulty following conversations in noisy places, and feeling like people are mumbling. If you're noticing these signs, a hearing exam can help determine what's going on.
How often should I get my hearing tested?
Adults with no known hearing concerns are generally advised to have a baseline hearing test and then check in every few years, though this can vary based on age, noise exposure, and personal risk factors. If you're noticing changes in your hearing, it's worth scheduling an evaluation sooner rather than waiting.
Can hearing loss be reversed?
It depends on the cause. Some types of hearing loss, like those caused by earwax buildup or infection, can improve with treatment. Age-related and noise-induced hearing loss are usually permanent, but hearing aids and other treatments can significantly improve how well you hear and communicate.
Is tinnitus serious?
Most of the time, tinnitus isn't a sign of a serious health problem, and it often relates to something manageable like earwax buildup or noise exposure. That said, tinnitus that's loud, persistent, or affecting your daily life is worth having evaluated, since it can sometimes point to an underlying condition like hearing loss or Meniere's disease.
References
¹ Hearing Loss Association of America (hearingloss.org)