Hearing

What you can do to protect your hearing

Twenty eight million people suffer from hearing loss. Many older people with hearing loss never see an audiologist, nor do they get fitted for hearing aids. Hearing loss has a very gradual onset, frequently going unnoticed by the sufferer. It’s usually someone else in the family that raises the possibility of hearing loss.

Here are some statistics regarding hearing loss:

• In people aged 65 to 74, 23 percent have hearing loss.
• From 75 to 84, that number goes up to 33 percent.
• Of people aged 85 and up, 48 percent have hearing loss.

Most doctors do not test for hearing loss as part of a routine physical, and many older people won’t complain of their hearing loss. Denial is often a problem, and this can only cause further complications as their hearing continues to deteriorate. For example, they might not be able to hear emergency sirens, fire alarms, honking horns or they may become depressed over time due to an inability to hear conversations. This can lead to irritability stemming from feelings of isolation.

Causes of Hearing Problems

Hearing loss can be hereditary – is there a history of hearing problems in your family? Heart, circulatory or thyroid problems could also increase your risk. Diabetes can also lead to hearing problems. Hearing loss can be categorized by what part of the auditory system is damaged, and treatment depends on the cause and severity of the hearing loss. When describing hearing loss, most people generally look at three factors: type of hearing loss, degree of hearing loss and the configuration of the hearing loss.

Types of Hearing Loss

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones of the middle ear. This type of hearing loss usually means that there will be a reduction in sound level or in the ability to hear faint sounds. Progressive hearing loss is a hearing loss that becomes increasingly worse over time; sometimes it can be so subtle that you may not even notice it. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain. Sensorineural hearing loss cannot be medically or surgically corrected.

A hearing aid is the most common solution for people with hearing problems. You may be a candidate for a cochlear implant, but more than likely you will get a hearing aid.