Hearing Loss

Understanding Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is a medical condition in which the auditory process and one’s hearing abilities are compromised. Hearing loss ranges in degrees of severity, from mild to profound. It also takes on different configurations (bilateral or unilateral, for example), and may make it difficult to register certain frequencies.

Prevalence of Hearing Loss

As the third most common medical condition in the United States, following heart disease and arthritis, hearing loss affects 20% of the population or 48 million Americans. While hearing loss affects anyone at any age, it does disproportionately affect older Americans. Approximately one in three people over the age of 65 and 50% of people over the age of 75 experience some degree of hearing loss. An estimated 60% of the American workforce experiences some degree of hearing loss, as well as 60% of veterans returning from combat zones.

Types & Causes of Hearing Loss

There are three types of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural, or mixed. Conductive hearing loss is related to the outer and middle ear, ear canals and bones. Sensorineural hearing loss is related to the inner ear and often occurs due to damage to inner ear hair cells. Damage to these cells prevents sound from being translated into electric signals which then fail to be delivered to the brain to be processed as sound. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of the previous two forms, affecting various areas of the ear simultaneously.

may be caused by: issues with the middle ear, ear infections, or otosclerosis; head injury; birth defects; impacted ear wax, ear infection, or other diseases.

may be caused by exposure to loud sound, presbycusis (age-related hearing loss), hereditary/genetics, head injury, ototoxic medications (drugs that damage inner ear hair cells), illnesses (measles, mumps, meningitis, Meniere’s), or tumors in the auditory pathway.

Signs of Hearing Loss:

Hearing loss occurs slowly and gradually, and because it is an invisible condition, it may not be immediately noticeable that someone is experiencing hearing loss. For this reason, hearing specialists recommend an annual hearing test from the age of 50. According to the Hearing Loss Association of America, here are some tell-tale signs of hearing loss:

Asking people to repeat what they say
Having trouble hearing in groups
Thinking that others mumble and should speak up
Failing to hear someone talking from behind you
Turning up the volume on TV and car radio
Experiencing difficulty on the phone
Having trouble hearing the alarm clock
Having difficulty hearing at the movies
Avoiding noisy parties and restaurants
Withdrawing from social situations

If these signs are present, it is important to schedule a hearing test to gauge your hearing abilities.

Identifying & Treating Hearing Loss

Because it is an invisible condition, hearing loss is not immediately detected and often times, people grow accustomed to living with diminished hearing abilities. The Hearing Loss Association of America reports that people tend to wait an average of seven years from the time they first experience changes in their hearing until they take a hearing test and seek treatment. Leaving hearing loss untreated could lead to a number of negative consequences.

With untreated hearing loss, there is a greater risk for depression, stress, and anxiety.

Since hearing loss interferes with speech recognition, people may withdraw socially and become isolated. A number of studies have found potential links between untreated hearing loss and dementia. Researchers suggest that when the brain struggles to hear and attempts to fill in gaps of sound, the heavier cognitive load may open up the risk for developing dementia.

People with untreated hearing loss have been found to have lower earning power in the workplace compared to colleagues with normal hearing or colleagues who treat their hearing loss with hearing aids.

This could be due to the fact that hearing loss interferes with our ability to communicate, and the heavier cognitive load placed on our brains makes it difficult to concentrate. Untreated hearing loss has also been linked to decreased personal safety, with a higher number of people with untreated hearing loss being hospitalized for falls or accidents.

If you believe that you, or someone you love, is experiencing hearing loss, the first step is to take a hearing test. Hearing tests gauge your current hearing abilities and provide crucial information on your hearing heath. Hearing loss is most commonly treated with the prescription of hearing aids customized to treat your specific configuration and degree of hearing loss. If a hearing loss is detected, we’ll work with you to find the best hearing solution to treat your needs.