Hearing Loss Is Avoidable

 

Life in today’s world has become considerably louder with the increase in the number of cars and lorries on the roads, more powerful sound systems in the home, cinemas and theaters and the constant sounds from industrial plants and electrical equipment. This has meant that the number of Americans who are either deaf or suffer from hearing difficulties has risen to over 28 million.

 

Fortunately a lot of hearing loss can be prevented or delayed. Vast improvements have been made in the technology used in hearing aids and medical treatments for hearing loss.

 

Hearing loss is now occurring at younger ages as more young people are exposed to dangerous sound levels. The number of Americans that are living with irreversible damage to their hearing from dangerous noise levels is around 10 million, and 30 million are exposed to damaging levels of noise every day.

 

People between the ages of 45 and 64 have the highest amount of hearing loss with a 365% loss amongst males and 85% loss amongst women. Thankfully the majority of hearing loss from noise levels and ear infections including middle ear infections in children is preventable.

 

Hearing tests at birth are now highly recommended. Otoacoustic emmision testing for newborn babies can now accurately diagnose any hearing loss. Language skills begin to develop in the first six months after birth and by diagnosing any problems as early as possible will give a child the best opportunity for healthy development.

 

Our hearing is the process of converting sound waves that cause vibration against the eardrum and the tiny bones in the middle ear and the cochlea into electrical signals. The cochlea, also known as the organ of hearing, has tiny cells that are able to convert these vibrations into nerve impulses which then travel to the brain. If these cells become damaged they die and cannot grow back.

 

Many people who damage their ears may end up suffering from tinnitus, a high pitched constant ringing in their ears. Around 40 million Americans are known to suffer from tinnitus but most learn to live with it.

 

Tinnitus can be the mild cases where the person can quite easily be lulled off to sleep by the sounds. But for others tinnitus can be simply maddening. No outright cure has been found for tinnitus, but relief is available and can helps over 80% of the severe cases estimated at 10 million sufferers.

 

William Shatner, the actor best known for his role as Captain Kirk on the television series Star Trek was almost driven to commit suicide after being tormented by tinnitus. The cause of his condition may have been the loud explosions that he was exposed to during the filming of the TV series.

 

You can prevent hearing loss in several ways. Earplugs can prevent you from losing your hearing. Everyday home equipment that produces over 90 decibels of sound such as lawnmowers and even some vacuum cleaners can cause temporary hearing loss if used for a long duration. 100 decibels from work equipment can damage a person’s hearing in 15 minutes if left unprotected. Any exposure to above 110 decibels such as from rock concerts, racing cars and chainsaws can cause permanent hearing loss.

 

Your hearing can be seriously damaged by infections if treatment is delayed. Pain and swelling are not always present during an infection. No other symptoms may be present apart from a loss in hearing. It is therefore important to discuss any hearing problems with a doctor and take a hearing test.

What You Should Know About Hearing Loss

While hearing problems are usually assumed to be exclusive to older people, this perception is not completely accurate. In fact, hearing loss can be present at birth, which may have a direct impact on the development of a child if it is not diagnosed and treated early. Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent, and it may or may not respond well to medical treatment.

 

For the most part, people with hearing loss attempt to improve their quality of life and get their hearing back through the use of hearing aids. In this article you will find information on hearing loss, including what to look for, forms of hearing loss, and types of treatment.

 

There are many signs that may indicate you are suffering from hearing loss. Children who are experiencing hearing loss may show delayed speech and language development. They may not respond when called and they may not be able to follow directions correctly. They may also have speech that is jumbled and/or hard to understand. The volume of radios and T.V.s may be turned up when your child is listening. If you see any of these signs or symptoms in a child, it is important to take them to an audiologist for an evaluation.

 

Should an adult be suffering hearing loss, he likely will not display the speech or language issues. He will often ask those around him to repeat what they just said. Doorbells or telephone rings might go unheard, and there may be the same problem with the television being too loud in volume.

 

A hearing sufferer may appear not to understand a joke because he is not processing the information, and he may find it easier to understand a conversation if he looks directly at the speaker. Folks who are suffering from loss of hearing might start to exclude themselves from social situations since they are embarrassed with their loss. An adult with these symptoms should consult an audiologist for evaluation and to discuss treatment choices.

 

Part of an evaluation will involve a determination of the cause and the type of hearing loss a patient is dealing with. Types of hearing loss are categorized based on which part of the ear the loss originated in. Once the source is pinpointed, an appropriate treatment can be recommended. The first type of hearing loss is known as conductive hearing loss. This is when sound cannot travel from the outside of the ear to the inside of the ear or the middle part of the ear. A likely cause of conductive hearing loss is an ear canal obstruction.

 

If there is actual damage to the inner ear, then this is called “sensorineural” hearing loss. It is thought of as permanent loss since there are currently no medical treatments to address the problem. If the hearing loss is only in one ear, it is considered unilateral hearing loss. This condition is common in children, and it can have a profound impact on school performance and social relationships. It’s hard to determine what causes unilateral hearing loss in some cases.

 

By isolating the category of hearing difficulty, the specialist can suggest the correct approach. Conductive hearing loss is usually treated easily, but it typically needs done by a professional. For instance, a health care provider can remove a wax blockage, which can adversely affect one’s hearing.

 

Hearing aids tuck easily inside or behind the ear. They amplify sound through a speaker so the ear can pick it up more easily. Cochlear implants may be used upon occasion to reverse very serious hearing loss. This procedure requires the removal of damaged parts of the ear which are then replaced with healthy, functioning tissue so that hearing is improved.

 

The loss of hearing is a frequent issue in people of every age, but help may be found. Should you think that you are experiencing a hearing loss, consult an audiologist as soon as possible for a proper diagnosis and treatment choices.