Hearing Loss

Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists of Wisconsin offers hearing tests and evaluations across the Fox Valley through our affiliated Audiology Center, with ENT offices serving Appleton, Neenah, Oshkosh, De Pere, Shawano, and Waupaca. Call (920) 969-1768 to schedule at the location most convenient for you. Because our audiologists work directly alongside ENT physicians, any medical cause behind the hearing loss can be identified and treated before it’s assumed to be permanent. You can request an appointment online or contact us with questions.

Hearing loss falls into three main types: sensorineural, conductive, and mixed. Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common and results from damage to the inner ear or hearing nerve, typically permanent and often treated with hearing aids. Conductive hearing loss happens when sound can’t travel efficiently through the outer or middle ear, often due to fluid, ear infections, earwax, or eardrum problems, many conductive losses can be medically or surgically corrected. Mixed hearing loss involves both types simultaneously. Identifying the type is the first step in choosing the right treatment, and it requires a full audiologic evaluation. Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists of Wisconsin can perform this evaluation, call (920) 969-1768 to schedule.

Whether hearing loss can be reversed depends entirely on what’s causing it. Conductive hearing loss from earwax buildup, fluid, ear infections, or a perforated eardrum is often reversible with medical or surgical treatment. Sensorineural hearing loss, the most common type, caused by damage to the inner ear or hearing nerve, is generally permanent and cannot be reversed, but it can be effectively managed with hearing aids, cochlear implants, or assistive listening devices. Sudden hearing loss is the exception, it can sometimes be partially or fully restored if treated quickly. An evaluation with Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists of Wisconsin will identify which type you have, call (920) 969-1768.

Yes, sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a medical emergency and should be evaluated within 72 hours to give the best chance of recovering hearing. It’s defined as a rapid loss of hearing in one or both ears over 72 hours or less, often noticed on waking or during a phone call. Steroid treatment started early can restore hearing in a meaningful percentage of patients, but the window closes quickly, and delays significantly reduce the likelihood of recovery. If you experience sudden hearing loss, don’t wait to see if it improves on its own. Call Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists of Wisconsin immediately at 920-969-1768 for urgent evaluation.

Research has consistently linked untreated hearing loss to a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults. The 2023 ACHIEVE study found that treating hearing loss with hearing aids reduced the rate of cognitive decline by nearly half in older adults at higher risk. The proposed mechanisms include increased cognitive load from straining to hear, social isolation, and reduced stimulation of the auditory brain regions. This is one reason experts urge earlier treatment rather than waiting the typical 7 years most people delay. A hearing test with Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists of Wisconsin can identify treatable loss early, call (920) 969-1768.

Common causes of hearing loss beyond aging include long-term noise exposure from workplaces, firearms, or recreational equipment, frequent or untreated ear infections, certain medications (including some antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs), head trauma, genetic factors, and medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or autoimmune disease. Sudden viral infections and blocked earwax can also cause temporary or lasting loss. Because the cause directly affects the treatment plan, some causes are reversible, others are not, identifying it matters. Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists of Wisconsin can determine the underlying cause through a full evaluation with our ENT team, call (920) 969-1768 to schedule.

Protect your hearing by using earplugs or earmuffs around sustained loud noise, keeping personal audio devices at 60% volume or lower for no more than 60 minutes at a time, and avoiding cotton swabs inside the ear canal. Get any ear infection, sudden hearing change, or persistent ringing evaluated promptly, and manage conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure that can affect inner ear health. Regular hearing tests establish a baseline and catch gradual loss early, when protection efforts have the most impact. Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists of Wisconsin can provide custom-fitted hearing protection and periodic screenings, call (920) 969-1768 or contact us.

Yes, about 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 babies in the United States are born with a detectable hearing loss in one or both ears. Wisconsin requires newborn hearing screening before hospital discharge, and any baby who doesn’t pass is referred for a full diagnostic evaluation, ideally by 3 months of age. Later-developing childhood hearing loss can result from ear infections, fluid behind the eardrum, genetic factors, or certain childhood illnesses. Early detection is critical because untreated loss can significantly delay speech, language, and learning. Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists of Wisconsin evaluates infants and children, call (920) 969-1768 to schedule.

A hearing loss evaluation typically begins with a conversation about your medical history, symptoms, noise exposure, and how hearing is affecting daily life. Next, an ENT physician examines your ears with an otoscope to check for earwax, infection, or eardrum problems. You’ll then move into a soundproof booth for a pure-tone audiogram, where you’ll respond to tones of different pitches and volumes through headphones. Speech recognition testing, tympanometry, and other targeted tests may follow depending on findings. Most appointments take 45 to 60 minutes, and results are discussed with you the same day. Schedule a hearing test at Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists of Wisconsin by calling (920) 969-1768.

Yes, snowmobiles, deer rifles, chainsaws, dairy and grain equipment, and other loud machinery common in Wisconsin can all cause noise-induced hearing loss over time. Snowmobiles typically produce 90 to 100 decibels at the driver’s ear, well above the 85-decibel damage threshold, and even a single unprotected rifle shot at close range can cause permanent damage. Damage is cumulative and often painless in the moment, which is why so many outdoor workers and hunters don’t realize it’s happening. Custom-fitted earplugs and electronic hearing protection preserve situational awareness without sacrificing your hearing. Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists of Wisconsin fits protective devices and screens for early damage, call (920) 969-1768.