A doctor requests a patient’s medical history and performs a physical examination. The physical examination also includes a detailed examination of the ears.
Medical history questions documenting hearing loss in detail may include:
- Is the hearing loss in both ears (bilateral)?
- Is the hearing loss mild or severe?
- Is all of the hearing lost (inability to hear any sound)?
- Is there decreased hearing acuity?
- Is there a decreased ability to understand speech?
- Is there a decreased ability to locate the source of a sound?
- How long has the hearing loss been present?
- Did it occur before age 30?
- What other symptoms are also present?
- Is there tinnitus (ringing or other sounds)?
- Is there ear pain?
A hearing aid can be helpful in coping with hearing loss caused by nerve damage. Certain forms of hearing loss are secondary and can be treated with medications.
