Do you frequently misunderstand what people are saying or feel as though you can’t hear well in background noise like during a dinner party at Last Resort Grill? Have you gotten a hearing test but the results indicated your hearing is normal? If so, you may be experiencing a condition known as hidden hearing loss.
What Is Hidden Hearing Loss?
Hidden hearing loss is characterized by an audiogram that reflects normal hearing sensitivity across all frequency ranges, but speech-in-noise tests reveal a deficit.
Most cases of sensorineural hearing loss are due to damage to the hair cells of the inner ear, known as the stereocilia. These cells are responsible for converting soundwaves into electric energy that travels via the auditory nerve to the brain to be interpreted as sound.
In the case of hidden hearing loss, the stereocilia are healthy, which is why audiograms reflect normal hearing. Rather, it is the auditory nerve fibers that are damaged. This means the connection between the ears and the brain is compromised, and the message the brain receives is incomplete.
How Is Hidden Hearing Loss Diagnosed?
If you’re exhibiting symptoms of hearing loss, an audiologist will complete a comprehensive hearing exam, including a pure tone audiometry test. If the audiogram reveals normal hearing, your audiologist can then administer a speech-in-noise test. This entails listening to sentences that are played or uttered over background noise and repeating them back.
Another test used to diagnose hidden hearing loss is Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing. This test involves placing electrodes on the head and playing noises through headphones. The electrodes then measure the auditory nerve’s response to sound.
How Is Hidden Hearing Loss Different from Auditory Processing Disorder?
It’s sometimes the case that hidden hearing loss is mistaken for auditory processing disorder. However, the causes and the affected areas of these two conditions are different.
Hidden hearing loss occurs due to damage to the nerve fibers, usually from noise exposure. Auditory processing disorder is caused by a disconnect between what the brain is doing and what the ears are detecting. Hidden hearing loss occurs due to a problem in the peripheral auditory system, whereas auditory processing disorder is due to a deficit in the central auditory system.
How Is Hidden Hearing Loss Treated?
Use of hearing aids is the best treatment for hidden hearing noise. Low-gain hearing aids with noise reduction features have been shown to be highly effective for cases of hidden hearing loss.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, call Georgia Hearing Center at ENT of Athens today!