title: Hearing Loss: Hearing Augmentation.
abstract: Etiologies of hearing loss vary. When hearing loss is diagnosed, referral to an otology subspecialist, audiology subspecialist, or hearing aid dispenser to discuss treatment options is appropriate. Conventional hearing aids provide increased sound pressure in the ear canal for detection of sounds that might otherwise be soft or inaudible. Hearing aids can be used for sensorineural, conductive, or mixed hearing loss by patients with a wide range of hearing loss severity. The most common type of hearing loss is high-frequency, which affects audibility and perception of speech consonants, but not vowels. As the severity of hearing loss increases, the benefit of hearing aids for speech perception decreases. Implantable devices such as cochlear implants, middle ear implants, and bone-anchored implants can benefit specific patient groups. Hearing assistive technology devices provide auditory, visual, or tactile information to augment hearing and increase environmental awareness of sounds. Hearing assistive devices include wireless assistive listening device systems, closed captioning, hearing aid-compatible telephones, and other devices. For some patients, financial barriers and health insurance issues limit acquisition of hearing aids, implantable devices, and hearing assistive devices. Physicians should be aware that for some patients and families, hearing augmentation may not be desired for cultural reasons.
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology, 5820 Asher Avenue University Plaza Suite 600, Little Rock, AR 72204, sratcherson@ualr.edu.
authors.forename: Samuel R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Atcherson
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moreland
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine, 1150 W. Medical Center Dr M7300 Med Sci I SPC 5625, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5625.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zazove
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine, 1018 Fuller St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1213, mmmckee@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: McKee