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Occupational hearing loss

Alternative Names:

Hearing loss - occupational

Treatment:

The hearing loss may be permanent. The goal of treatment is to improve any remaining hearing and develop coping skills (such as lip reading).

Using a hearing aid may improve communication. Always protect the ear from further damage, for example, wear ear plugs in noisy areas.

Expectations (prognosis):

Hearing loss is often permanent in the affected ear. The loss may be progressive if measures are not taken to prevent further damage.

Complications:

Hearing loss may progress to total deafness.

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if hearing loss occurs, gets worse, or if other new symptoms develop.

Ear anatomy

Review Date: 10/20/2006
Reviewed By: Alden J. Pearl, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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