Hearing Loss: Mechanisms, Assessment and Treatment

Hearing loss refers to the partial or total loss of hearing in one or both ears, which can range from mild to profound. It is a common issue caused by illness, noise, heredity and aging. Mixed hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and conductive hearing loss are the three basic types of hearing loss. There are various signs and symptoms of hearing loss including trouble understanding speech in the presence of background noise, loss of sound localization and difficulty using the telephone. The type and severity of hearing loss can be diagnosed accurately using a number of tests including auditory brainstem response (ABR), acoustic immittance and bone conduction. Some of the common treatments for hearing loss are hearing rehabilitation, medications, hearing assist devices, surgery and listening devices. This book is a valuable compilation of topics on the mechanisms, assessment and treatment of hearing loss. Its extensive content provides the readers with a thorough understanding of the subject.