Answer:

Hearing loss is a reduction in the ability to perceive sounds. Signs include difficulty hearing, struggling to understand others, especially in crowded environments, inability to distinguish between sounds and speech, and frequently needing to increase the volume of phones, televisions, and speakers beyond normal levels. The ears may experience ringing, buzzing, or phantom sounds. Individuals with hearing loss often ask others to repeat themselves, speak slower, and louder.

Tinnitus and difficulty hearing are common early symptoms of hearing loss. However, these symptoms can also stem from various other causes, such as earwax blockage, otitis media, inner ear damage, prolonged noise exposure, or inner ear circulatory disorders. If you experience persistent tinnitus and difficulty hearing accompanied by other unusual signs, you should seek early medical attention for a hearing test so a doctor can assess, diagnose, and recommend appropriate treatment.

A patient is guided to wear a device before a hearing test. *Illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital*

To diagnose hearing loss, a doctor may recommend hearing tests such as pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, acoustic reflex testing, otoacoustic emissions (OAE), and auditory brainstem response (ABR). The hearing test procedure is typically quick, painless, and requires no prior preparation.

Hearing test results help identify the type of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural, or mixed. Based on the audiogram results and the patient's condition, the doctor can determine a suitable treatment plan to improve hearing. Early detection of hearing loss allows for effective treatment or intervention, minimizing its impact on communication and quality of life.

Master, Doctor, First Degree Specialist Truong Tri Tuong

Ear, Nose, and Throat Center

Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City