What is Cookie Bite Hearing Loss, and How can it be Treated?

Losing your hearing abilities can be caused by aging, it may be hereditary, or it can come from being exposed to noises in your daily environments. 

There is less familiar type of hearing loss, known as cooking bite hearing loss. A cookie bite hearing loss is unusual because particular sounds that a person will hear is altered. It progresses slowly and is more difficult to detect than other types of hearing impairments.  

Define Cookie Bite Hearing Loss

“Cookie bite” refers to the image of an audiogram that is taken from a patient who has this condition. Rather than displaying a smooth line, these individuals have audiograms that show a dent in the center that resembles a cookie bite, hence the name. This dent has severe repercussions for an individual. 

In most cases, those who have this condition will struggle to hear sounds located in the middle of the frequency range, but they are able to recognize low and high frequencies. The middle frequencies allow those with normal hearing to recognize music and speech, as a result the effects of cookie bite hearing loss can be serious. For example, these individuals may have the ability to hear the sound of a door shutting or someone playing a guitar, but cannot hear if someone is talking in front of them.  

The Development of Cookie Bite Hearing Loss

As aforementioned, this hearing loss progresses slowly. Anyone who has this issue will begin to observe struggles to hear common noises when they are in their 20s. It will then become more severe when they are in their late 30s and, for some, in their 40s. People generally postpone seeking treatment due to the fact that the condition develops slowly and is difficult to identify in the early stages. 

Experts believe the cookie bite hearing loss is primarily genetic in its nature. It is also known as a sensorineural condition, which indicates that it attacks the auditory vestibular nerve located in the inner ear. This is an additional reason as to why it is so difficult to diagnose. Patients will discover that they have cookie bite hearing loss after getting an audiogram. Young people do not typically get this exam, so the problem may get worse if they don’t get it treated. 

Repercussions of Cookie Bite Hearing Loss

Social interactions can sometimes go awry with cookie bite hearing loss. Those who suffer from this condition may have difficulty in engaging with others during a conversation. In a job setting, problems may arise if they cannot comprehend instructions, presentations, or questions during an interview. It can become more difficult to listen to music. Messages that warn people of potential danger can be missed in public areas, and alarm systems or sirens can feel painful to the ears if an individual suffers from cookie bite hearing loss.    

Treatments Available

Although hearing aids cannot restore normal hearing for those with cookie bite hearing loss, they can alleviate symptoms. These devices have a feature that cut down on low and high frequencies, which will level out the amplification and focuses on amplifying the mid-frequency range. Amplifying the mid-frequency range is needed to help your hearing. Hearing aids can be adjusted by a hearing instrument specialist, and tailored to each person’s hearing ranges.     

If you suffer from cookie bite hearing loss, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids to schedule a free hearing test and consultation from one of our hearing instrument specialists.

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