Hearing Loss

UI Health Care offers hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other treatments for conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, presbycusis, and more.
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1-319-356-2201
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Although hearing loss is common in people over age 65, it is not unique to older adults. People of all ages can develop gradual or sudden hearing loss—making it harder to communicate and interact with the world around them.  

Fortunately, University of Iowa Health Care offers a wide range of therapies that can improve or restore hearing. We routinely treat patients who: 

  • Have early signs of hearing loss, such as trouble following conversations in noisy places 

  • Are no longer able to hear well while wearing their hearing aids 

  • Were born with hearing loss  

  • Have hearing loss caused by a medical condition, such as acoustic neuroma or Meniere’s disease 

No matter what caused your hearing loss—or what age it began—our adult or pediatric hearing loss experts can help.

Hearing loss types and symptoms

Your ears contain several parts that work together to allow hearing:

  • The external ear is made up of your outer ear (the part you can see), ear canal, and eardrum. 

  • The middle ear is a chamber located behind your eardrum. 

  • The inner ear contains a structure called the cochlea, which sends sound signals to your main hearing nerve (auditory nerve).

Types of hearing loss

There are three main types of hearing loss. Each affects a different part of the ear: 

  • Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a problem with your outer or middle ear. 

  • Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is a problem with your inner ear or auditory nerve. 

  • Mixed hearing loss refers to a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

What causes hearing loss?

Anything that blocks or damages your external, middle, or inner ear can cause hearing loss. Common causes include:  

  • Abnormal bone growth inside your middle ear (otosclerosis) 

  • Age-related changes to any structures inside your ears (presbycusis) 

  • Chronic ear infections 

  • Chronic exposure to loud noise  

  • Earwax buildup 

  • Head injuries 

  • Medical conditions such as labyrinthitis or Meniere’s disease 

  • Medication side effects (certain drugs used to treat infections or cancer can harm your inner ear) 

  • Ruptured eardrum 

  • Tumors that grow on your auditory nerve (acoustic neuroma)

Hearing loss symptoms

Hearing loss can affect just one ear (unilateral hearing loss) or both ears (bilateral hearing loss). In either case, signs of hearing loss often include: 

  • Trouble hearing conversations when there is a lot of background noise 

  • Trouble hearing high-pitched sounds 

  • Muffled hearing 

  • Frequently asking people to speak up or repeat themselves 

  • Constantly needing to turn up the volume on your phone, TV, or radio 

In some cases, hearing loss may be accompanied by other symptoms. These include ringing in your ears (tinnitus) or a feeling of pressure or fullness inside your ear. 

How we diagnose hearing loss

We use various tests to confirm what type of hearing loss you have, what’s causing it, and how severe it is.  

You may have one or more of the following: 

  • A physical examination to look for earwax buildup, fluid buildup, or signs of inflammation 

  • A hearing test (audiogram) to measure your hearing ability across a broad range of pitches and volumes 

  • A tympanogram to assess the health of your eardrum 

  • Imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, to look for tumors or structural problems 

No matter how severe your hearing loss, help is available from UI Health Care. We offer treatments for all types (and degrees) of hearing loss, in both children and adults.

Hearing loss treatments from UI Health Care

We offer all the nonsurgical and surgical treatments available to improve or overcome your hearing loss.

Nonsurgical treatments for hearing loss 

Nonsurgical options to help restore your hearing include: 

  • Medication. If your hearing loss is caused by a medical problem such as chronic ear infections, certain drugs may improve or cure the underlying condition. 

  • Earwax removal. We offer several nonsurgical procedures to safely remove earwax that is blocking your ear canal. 

  • Hearing aids. Traditional hearing aids are wearable devices that you can easily take off or remove. They help you hear better by amplifying the sounds around you. 

  • Assistive listening devices (ALDs). These are hearing devices that can be used alone or in conjunction with your hearing aid. For example, some ALDs amplify the sound of your phone, TV, or doorbell.

Surgical treatments for hearing loss 

For some people with hearing loss, surgery is the most effective treatment option.  

UI Health Care otologists and neurotologists perform many types of surgery. These include procedures to remove tumors, fix structural problems, or implant hearing devices.  

Our areas of expertise include: 

  • Ear tube surgery: This procedure is often used to treat chronic ear infections. Small plastic or metal tubes placed inside your eardrum allow fluid to drain from (and air to flow through) your middle ear.  

  • Stapedectomy: This procedure treats abnormal bone growth in the middle ear (otosclerosis). Your surgeon replaces a tiny bone called the stapes with an artificial device.  

  • Bone conduction implants: These devices are also known as bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA). They painlessly send sound waves through your skull and directly to your inner ear. 

  • Cochlear implants are electronic devices that send sound signals to your brain via your auditory nerve. They’re reserved for people whose severe hearing loss cannot be improved with hearing aids.

A team approach to hearing loss treatment

UI Health Care is home to Iowa’s largest and most experienced team of hearing loss experts. These experts work together to help you hear better. They include: 

  • Audiologists who perform hearing tests and can help confirm what type of hearing loss you have. We can also help you select and fit a hearing aid or assistive listening device. 

  • Otologists and neurotologists who diagnose and treat complex ear disorders and perform advanced surgical procedures such as cochlear implant surgery 

  • Our team also includes researchers who study new and better ways to treat hearing loss in children and adults.

Our Care Team

Alexander D. Claussen, MD portrait

Alexander D.
Claussen
MD

  • Otolaryngology
Bruce J. Gantz, MD portrait

Bruce J.
Gantz
MD

  • Otolaryngology
4.47 out of 5 (1,230 ratings)
Marlan Hansen, MD portrait

Marlan
Hansen
MD

  • Otolaryngology
4.61 out of 5 (1,176 ratings)
Richard Smith, MD portrait

Richard
Smith
MD

  • Otolaryngology
4.55 out of 5 (219 ratings)

Amanda M. Schaefer, MS, LGC portrait

Amanda M.
Schaefer
MS, LGC

  • Otolaryngology
Want to improve your hearing?
Whether you have noticed gradual signs of hearing loss, or your hearing aids no longer work, call UI Health Care. We’ll connect you with a specialist who can test your hearing, confirm what’s causing your hearing loss, and recommend treatment.
Call 1-319-356-2201 Request an appointment Refer a patient

Locations and Offices

Otolaryngology Clinic

21291 Pomerantz Family Pavilion (PFP)
Level 2, Elevator L
1-319-356-2201
Clinic
In University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242

Hearing Aid Center

21000 Pomerantz Family Pavilion (PFP)
Level 2, Elevator L
1-319-356-2222
Clinic
In University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242
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