Treatments Available for the Hearing Impaired

There are essentially two different types of hearing impairment: that which occurs because the inner ear itself is damaged and that which happens because sound cannot reach the inner ear, according to Medline Plus. People can be born hearing impaired, or impairment can develop over time (hearing loss). Treatment varies based on the cause and severity of an individual's hearing impairment.

Removing Blockage

• Hearing impairment is sometimes caused by a wax blockage in the ear that prevents sound from reaching the inner ear. The Mayo Clinic reports that a doctor can loosen the blockage with oil and then remove it through by flushing, scooping or suctioning. The March of Dimes also reports that surgery may be performed to correct fluid buildup because of multiple ear infections.

Hearing Aids

• Some hearing-impaired people may benefit from the use of hearing aids. According to the March of Dimes, hearing aids can be used in children as young as four weeks; children are generally fitted with behind-the-ear hearing aids as opposed to hearing aids that fit inside the ear. The Mayo Clinic cautions that people may have to try out several different hearing aids before finding one that works. Hearing aids can help only people with some hearing to better hear the sounds around them, and not all hearing-impaired people can benefit from the use of hearing aids.

Cochlear Implants

• People with profound hearing loss may benefit from cochlear implants, which are designed to make up for damage causing hearing impairment within the inner ear (as opposed to hearing aids, which simply amplify sound), according to the Mayo Clinic. The March of Dimes reports that cochlear implants can be used in children as young as one year of age; however, there is an increased risk of bacterial meningitis in children with cochlear implants, and these and other risks should be discussed with a doctor ahead of time.

  Hearing aids and in particular cochlear implants are controversial within some parts of the deaf community because of the view that they pathologize hearing impairment (make it into a disease), and that these devices pose a threat to deaf culture. Because of this, the views of parents are particularly important when making decisions about the care of deaf children.

Education

• Education is one of the most important steps in helping hearing-impaired people, specifically those born with hearing problems. Education is available in American Sign Language (which is not, contrary to popular belief, simply a manual version of American English, but is its own distinct language), signed versions of English, speech therapy and lip-reading. The March of Dimes reports that low- and no-cost educational services are provided up until the age of three under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and educational services then shift to the public school system.

Hearing Dogs

• Like seeing or guide dogs for visually impaired people, hearing-impaired people can work with hearing dogs, who are trained to respond to sounds and guide their masters to them.