Your Hearing
Hearing Loss
If you think you have a hearing loss, you are not alone.
10% of the world’s population has a hearing loss.
29% of people over 65 have a hearing loss.
3 in 10 people over 60 have hearing problems.
60% - the majority of people with hearing loss - are male.
1 in 6 baby boomers (ages 41 to 59) have hearing problems.
65% of people with hearing loss are below retirement age.
As hearing loss often worsens gradually, many people simply aren’t aware of the problem – they attribute their hearing difficulties to other causes and gradually change their lives.
10 warning signs of hearing loss
If you experience one or more of these warning signs repeatedly, you may have a
hearing loss:
People seem to mumble more frequently.
You experience ringing in your ears.
You often ask people to repeat themselves.
Your family complains that you play the radio or TV too loudly.
You no longer hear normal household sounds, such as the dripping of a
faucet or the ringing of a doorbell.
You have difficulty understanding a conversation when in a large group or crowd.
You have trouble understanding all of the words in a conversation.
You find telephone conversation increasingly difficult.
You have trouble hearing when you have your back turned to the speaker.
You have been told that you speak too loudly.
Types and Causes of hearing loss
One of the effects of hearing loss is a reduced ability to distinguish speech from noise, and sounds like birdsong may disappear altogether. The causes of hearing loss vary and the type of hearing loss is determined by in which part of the ear the impairment occurs. There are generally three different types of hearing loss:
Conductive hearing loss
A conductive hearing loss is often temporary and can sometimes be corrected. Conductive loss stems from problems in the outer or middle ear and can be caused by:
Infection
Build-up of wax or fluid
Punctured eardrum
Otosclerosis – an abnormal bone development in the middle ear.
This type of hearing loss can in many cases be treated with wax removal, medicine or surgery.
Sensorineural hearing loss
Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss. In fact, sensorineural loss accounts for 90% of all adult hearing problems and can be caused by aging and exposure to loud noise. If you have a sensorineural loss you most likely notice:
Sounds not only diminish in volume, but become distorted.
High pitched sounds, such as soft consonant sounds are more difficult to hear.
Low pitched sounds, such as vowels, are easier to hear.
This type of hearing loss is caused by problems with the cochlea and the auditory nerve. It can be treated with amplification (hearing instruments) and occasionally surgery. For more information about surgical procedures, please consult a physician.
Mixed hearing loss
Mixed hearing loss is a hearing loss where both conductive and sensorineural losses occur at the same time.
In these cases you may need treatment such as wax removal, medication, or surgery in addition to hearing aids.
Temporary hearing loss
There are times where a hearing loss is temporary. A temporary hearing loss is common and can be caused by any of the following:
Excessive earwax
Ear infections
Allergies
Sinus problems
Certain medications