Hearing Loss Overview

Hearing loss is the third most prevalent physical disorder and affects individuals of all ages.

According to the Hearing Loss Association of America, about 48 million Americans suffer from some kind of hearing loss. Those aged 60-69 have the highest levels of hearing loss. Interestingly, adult males (aged 20-69) are twice as probable to have hearing loss as females who are the same age.

Causes of Hearing Loss

Signs of hearing loss

There are some tell-tale signs of hearing loss to look out for.

Ask yourself:

Do you turn the TV up louder than family members like to have it?
Do you have trouble following a conversations bars and restaurants?
Do you find it hard to hear on the phone?
Do you often ask other individuals to repeat what they're saying?
Does your partner complain that you're not listening to them?
Are you annoyed by how much everyone mumbles around you?

Those who say yes to more than a few of these questions may have a hearing loss.

Types of hearing loss

Hearing loss and deafness are the consequence of sound signals that do not reach the brain owing to problems in the hearing system. There are two primary kinds of hearing loss, based on where the issue is:

Sensorineural hearing loss

Conductive hearing loss

mixed hearing loss

Causes of hearing loss

There are two main types of sensorineural hearing loss:

Age-related hearing loss

Age-related hearing loss - Also called presbycusis, age-related hearing loss occurs naturally in all of us. It generally begins between the ages of 45 and 65 and can be aggravated by environmental variables such as high noise exposure. Age-related hearing loss primarily impacts high frequencies and generally occurs in both ears. It is triggered by harm to the fine hair cells in the cochlea through chronic use. This leads to a reduced ability to transmit sound signals to the auditory nerve.

Noise-induced hearing loss

Noise-induced hearing loss - Loud noise is the most common cause of preventable hearing loss. It is a permanent type of hearing loss that can result either from a one-off exposure to an extremely loud noise, such as an explosion, or from a prolonged exposure to a sequence of loud noises. Both types of noise-induced hearing loss happen due to overstimulation and harm to hair cells and supporting structures in the cochlea–an organ that senses sound.

You’re likely in the presence of dangerous noise levels if:

You are required to raise you voice to talk to the person next to you
The music on your headphones drowns out traffic and noise around you
You get a ringing in your ears after a music event or day at work.

How to prevent hearing loss?

Wear hearing protection

By taking the correct steps, such as wearing ear protection such as ear plugs and ear muffs when you realize that your environment contains dangerous sounds levels, it is possible to avoid noise-induced hearing loss. Smartphone sound level meter applications are also around to measure the approximate noise level in your setting.

Check your hearing regularly with a hearing health professional

Take time to visit us regularly! We can diagnose any hearing loss you might have. From the outcomes of your hearing test, we are aware of the specifics and frequencies of your ear loss, such as which ear is most impacted. We use this data to determine how your hearing loss can be managed, including if you would benefit from hearing aids.

Fewer than sixteen percent of the 28.8 million Americans who could benefit from using hearing aids are actually using them. If you’re struggling with a hearing loss and aren’t treating it, you’re missing out on countless connections with friends, family, and loved ones.