If you think you have severe hearing loss, please consider seeing a specialist. The type of hearing loss depends on which part of the ear is damaged. Please visit Cochlear.com for more important information regarding hearing loss:

• Sensoineural – can occur as you get older or at birth. Most people say they are able to hear, but don’t always understand what people are saying. This is due to damage of the inner ear. Depending on the amount of hearing loss, a cochlear implant can be very beneficial.
• Conductive – when hearing loss is due to problems with the outer ear or middle ear
• Mixed – refers to a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss
• Single-sided Deafness – Refers to no hearing or very little hearing in only one ear and normal hearing in the other ear. This type of hearing loss can be treated with a cochlear implant or a bone conduction implant.

There are different degrees of hearing loss. They include:

• MILD – able to hear the loud or more intense vowel sounds, but may miss some of the softer consonant sounds. People with a mild hearing loss may have difficulty hearing soft-spoken people and young children. Also, they may have to ask people to speak up or repeat themselves on occasion. Hybrid hearing can help amplify low-pitch sounds as well as bring back high-pitch sounds that are missing.*
• MODERATE – in addition to missing consonant sounds, vowel sounds then become more difficult to hear. People with a moderate hearing loss often comment that without hearing aids they hear, but can’t always understand. Hybrid hearing can help amplify low-pitch sounds as well as bring back high-pitch sounds that are missing.*
• MODERATELY SEVERE – without hearing aids, speech becomes inaudible. Even with hearing aids, speech may still be difficult to understand and increasing the volume doesn’t always make it clearer. That’s why a cochlear implant might be a better option for adults.
• SEVERE – without hearing aids, speech is inaudible, but loud sounds like a baby crying or a dog barking are audible. A cochlear implant is often the best option for adults and children.
• PROFOUND – without hearing aids, speech is inaudible, but very loud sounds like a lawn mower or jet airplane are audible. Again, a cochlear implant is often the best option for adults and children.

You are invited to learn more about the Cochlear implant as a solution for hearing loss on Wednesday, November 7 starting at 11:30 am at WJCT studios (1 Festival Park Drive, across from TIAA Stadium). You will hear a presentation by Jacksonville Hearing & Balance Institute’s J. Douglas Green Jr., MD, FACS, and Elizabeth Selle, AuD, along with experts from Cochlear®, who will provide information on this implant, including displays.  Meet Cochlear® implant patients who now hear their grandchildren and enjoy an improved quality of life. This community medical seminar is free and open to the public (limited seating). Lunch will be served. Please RSVP no later than November 5 by going to www.WJCT.org. Hear Now. Hear Always with Cochlear®.