HearingDB.org is an online platform dedicated to hearing devices and hearing care, designed to be open and accessible to everyone with hearing difficulties. We leverage the power of crowdsourcing for continuous updates, ensuring our information stays current and comprehensive.

HearingDB.org was created by a team of hearing care providers and researchers at the University of Southern California. The initiative was created with support from the American Neurotology Society, the USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, and the University of Minnesota.

If you often ask people to repeat themselves, find it hard to follow conversations in noisy environments, or need to turn up the volume on your TV or radio, you might have hearing loss. Struggling with phone calls, avoiding social situations, and finding it difficult to hear high-pitched sounds like children’s voices or birds chirping are also common signs.

If you feel exhausted after trying to listen or your friends or family have mentioned your hearing issues,  it’s time to consider a hearing test.

Hearing loss can be caused by a variety of factors. These include aging, prolonged exposure to loud noises, ear infections, genetic factors, ototoxic medications, head injuries, earwax buildup, and structural abnormalities in the ear. 

• Prolonged exposure to loud noises, such as those from concerts, machinery, or personal music devices, can damage the hair cells in the inner ear, resulting in noise-induced hearing loss.
• Chronic ear infections can lead to fluid buildup and subsequent damage to the middle ear.
• Genetic predispositions may also play a significant role, with certain hereditary conditions causing congenital or progressive hearing loss.
• Ototoxic medications, such as specific antibiotics and chemotherapy agents, can impair auditory function by damaging inner ear structures.
• Traumatic injuries to the head or ear can disrupt the auditory pathways, leading to hearing impairment.
• Infection and diseases like meningitis, measles, mumps, and diabetes are known to affect hearing.
• Accumulation of earwax can obstruct the ear canal, causing reversible hearing loss.
• Structural abnormalities in the ear, benign or malignant tumors such as acoustic neuromas, and autoimmune inner ear diseases, where the immune system erroneously attacks the ear, are also significant causes. 

Identifying the underlying cause is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment and management of hearing loss. If you experience symptoms of hearing loss, consulting a healthcare professional is essential for a proper diagnosis and tailored treatment plan.

Hearing loss is diagnosed through a hearing test conducted by an audiologist, which measures your ability to hear different frequencies and sound intensities.

If you suspect hearing loss, you can also use hearing screening apps available on your phone as an initial check. If you notice any changes, consult your local hearing professionals for a comprehensive diagnostic hearing test.

Yes, hearing loss can often be treated, but the approach depends on the type and severity of the loss.

Treatment options include hearing aids, cochlear implants, bone conduction devices, and assistive listening devices.

In some cases, medical or surgical interventions may be effective, particularly for conductive hearing loss. While most types of hearing loss, especially sensorineural, cannot be fully reversed, these treatments can significantly improve hearing and quality of life.

To schedule a consultation with a hearing professional, you can start by contacting a local audiology clinic or hearing center. Most clinics offer the option to book appointments online through their website, where you can choose a convenient date and time.

Alternatively, you can call the clinic directly to speak with a receptionist who can assist you in scheduling. If you have a referral from your primary care physician, provide this information when booking your appointment. Additionally, check if your insurance requires a referral or prior authorization. Once your appointment is set, the clinic will usually send a confirmation and any necessary pre-appointment instructions.

An audiogram is a chart that shows the results of a hearing test, illustrating the softest sounds you can hear at different frequencies.

Click to see an example graph!

The horizontal axis represents frequency (pitch) in Hertz (Hz), ranging from low to high. The vertical axis represents intensity (loudness) in decibels (dB), ranging from soft to loud.

• Frequency (Hz): The audiogram displays frequencies (pitches) from low to high on the horizontal axis. Frequencies are measured in Hertz (Hz), ranging typically from 250 Hz to 8000 Hz.
• Intensity (dB): The vertical axis shows sound intensity or loudness, measured in decibels (dB), with values ranging from -10 dB (very soft) to 120 dB (very loud).
• Hearing Thresholds:
  • Marks on the audiogram represent the softest sounds you can hear at each frequency. These thresholds are plotted for each ear, with circles (O) typically representing the right ear and crosses (X) representing the left ear.

The degree of hearing loss is determined by the dB level of the hearing thresholds:

• Normal: -10 to 20 dB
• Mild: 21 to 40 dB
• Moderate: 41 to 70 dB
• Severe: 71 to 90 dB
• Profound: 91 dB and above

The three main types of hearing loss are conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss.

• Conductive Hearing Loss: Problems in the outer or middle ear, often indicated by a gap between air conduction (O/X) and bone conduction ( [ ] < >) thresholds.
• Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Issues in the inner ear or auditory nerve, where both air and bone conduction thresholds are similarly affected.
• Mixed Hearing Loss: A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, showing both air-bone gaps and elevated bone conduction thresholds.

Unequal hearing loss between the two ears, also known as asymmetrical hearing loss, means one ear has better hearing than the other. This can result from various causes and may require different management strategies for each ear. 

Common causes include earwax buildup, fluid in your middle or outer ears, ear infections, exposure to loud noises, head injuries, and certain diseases or conditions like Meniere’s disease, acoustic neuromas, or sudden sensorineural hearing loss. 

Additional tests like tympanometry, imaging (MRI or CT scans) may be conducted to determine the underlying cause. Identifying the cause is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment and management plan. Some causes, like tumors or infections, may require specific medical or surgical interventions.

Speech audiometry is a hearing test that measures your ability to hear and understand speech. It evaluates both the clarity and the volume at which you can recognize spoken words. It helps determine how well you can understand speech in different environments, providing more information about your hearing abilities in addition to pure-tone audiometry.

• Speech Reception Threshold (SRT): The lowest volume at which you can correctly repeat half of the words presented.
• Word Recognition Score (WRS): The percentage of words you can correctly identify at a comfortable listening level.

Understanding your speech recognition ability helps audiologists determine your eligibility for various hearing devices, including hearing aids and cochlear implants.

If your audiogram shows hearing loss, schedule a consultation with an audiologist and an ENT physician to discuss the results and explore the causes. You may need further medical evaluations and could be a candidate for hearing devices, depending on the type and severity of your hearing loss.