Hearing Loss Specialist

Downtown ENT: B. Thuy Le, MD

Otolaryngologist located in New York, NY

Around 20% of Americans experience some degree of hearing loss, including nearly half of those over the age of 75. If you have signs of hearing loss, contact B. Thuy Le, MD, at Downtown ENT, in SoHo, Manhattan. Dr. Le offers hearing tests and personalized treatment plans to help you cope with hearing loss. If you’re concerned about hearing loss, call the New York City office, or schedule a consultation online today.

212-518-1785

Hearing Loss Q&A

What are the warning signs of hearing loss?

While your risk of hearing loss increases with age, you can begin to lose your hearing at any age. Some of the early signs of hearing loss include:

Muffled sounds and voices
Trouble understanding people, especially in noisy environments
Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
Increasing the volume of your television
Avoiding social situations
Tinnitus

Hearing loss is usually gradual, and you should never ignore it. Dr. Le offers personalized treatments to address the cause of your hearing loss. Sudden hearing loss is an emergency.

What causes hearing loss?

Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of the condition. This type of hearing loss involves decline or damage of the inner ear. Sensorineural hearing loss is often age-related, although it can occur from exposure to loud noises, meningitis, genetic problems, medication toxicity such as chemotherapy, or as part of a more general medical condition

Conductive hearing loss develops because of problems in your middle or outer ear mechanics. For example, you could have fluid behind the eardrum, a problem with the ossicles (the ear bones), or a ruptured eardrum. Even a build-up of earwax can interfere with the conduction of your hearing.

When should I talk to a doctor about hearing loss?

You should make an appointment with Dr. Le at Downtown ENT if your hearing loss interferes with your life or whenever it is a sudden loss. For example, if you can’t hear your family or find that you’re socially isolating yourself because you can’t participate in conversations, it’s time to schedule a hearing test. You should also contact Dr. Le immediately if you develop sudden hearing loss.

How is hearing loss treated?

Dr. Le begins with thorough hearing assessments and ear exam to evaluate your hearing loss and identify its cause. Then, she provides personalized treatment plans to address hearing loss. You may need specific tests or scans, and your treatment will always be tailored to your individual case.

If you have signs of hearing loss, call Downtown ENT, or schedule an appointment online today for expert assessment and treatment.