Causes of Hearing Loss

More than 30 million Americans of all ages suffer from hearing loss. Hearing loss can develop at any time. It can develop very suddenly or simply happen gradually over time. Many do not realize for several years that hearing loss is affecting them. Hearing loss manifests itself in many ways: people struggling to understand others in certain situations or simply not hearing certain sounds clearly.

There are many causes of hearing loss, including:

Long-term exposure to noise
The aging process
Heredity
Infections and illness
Reactions to medications
Injury
Ear Wax

Hearing loss affects not only the individual but also those around them. Many times friends and family recognize the symptoms of hearing loss long before the patient.

Symptoms of Hearing Loss
Did you know that hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults? The National Council on Aging (NCOA) states that more than nine million Americans over the age 65 exhibit hearing loss. There are an additional 10 million between the ages of 45 and 65 who experience some degree of hearing loss.

As your hearing declines, so does your ability to effectively communicate. You may find yourself avoiding certain situations, accusing others of mumbling or finding it hard to hear certain individuals such as women or small children. All are common signs you may have a hearing loss.
Hearing loss can be frustrating, isolating and for some an embarrassing situation. The great news is a hearing loss can be managed. You can experience 100% of your life again.

Types of Hearing Loss
There are two general categories of hearing loss:

Sensorineural Hearing Loss occurs when there is damage to the nerves of the inner ear. This is generally permanent and accounts for approximately 95% of all hearing losses. It cannot be cured but can be successfully managed with the use of hearing instruments

Conductive Hearing Loss occurs when sound is not being transmitted properly to the inner ear due to a "mechanical” problem. It is often the result of damage or blockage in the outer or middle ear. In most cases, conductive hearing problems can be corrected medically.

Do I have a hearing loss?

Do you frequently ask for words or sentences to be repeated?
Do you strain to understand conversation?
Do you often turn up the television or radio louder than others would prefer?
Do people often sound as though they're mumbling or speaking to softly?
When you are socializing, does background noise bother you?
Do you misunderstand what others are saying or answer questions inappropriately?
Do you remove yourself from conversations or social situations because it is difficult to hear what is being said?
Do you need to ask others about details of a meeting that you just attended?
Do you have difficulty hearing the doorbell or telephone?
Has someone close to you mentioned that you might have a problem with your hearing?

If you answered yes to 3 or more of these questions, you may have a hearing problem and should have your hearing evaluated by a hearing healthcare professional.

A hearing test at your hearing healthcare professional
Your hearing healthcare professional will administer a brief test that evaluates your ability to recognize tones and everyday words at different volume levels. By putting together your responses to this test, the hearing healthcare professional develops a visual representation of your hearing called an Audiogram.

Your hearing healthcare professional uses the data from your audiogram to determine if you might benefit from hearing instruments or if other medical treatment may be appropriate.