Hearing fulfils several purposes; it is essential for verbal communication – not only do we hear words but also nuances in tone which often determine the exact meaning. It is required for the perception of sound (e.g., music) and useful for orientation i.e., an approaching vehicle is often heard and located before it is seen. Our ability to hear defines who we are and how we communicate. When everything works as it should, our sense of hearing has the power to inform, entertain and connect us with family and friends .
Hearing loss affects 10% of the population. Although people of all ages can be affected by hearing loss, the majority of people with impaired hearing are over 60 years old and hearing loss is associated with a common factor of age. More than 40% of people over 50 show signs of a hearing loss increasing to 71% over the age of 70.
Your hearing care professional can accurately measure your hearing loss so you can receive the right treatment.
Hearing fulfils several important purposes in life
Our ability to hear defines who we are and how we communicate. When everything works as it should, our sense of hearing has the power to inform, entertain and connect us with family and friends.
Hearing loss affects 10% of the population. Although people of all ages can be affected by hearing loss, most people with impaired hearing are over 60 years old. More than 40% of people over 50 show signs of a hearing loss increasing to 71% over the age of 70.
Your hearing care professional can accurately measure your hearing loss so you can receive the right treatment.
Hearing loss develops gradually over many years, often making it difficult for those affected to recognize that they are suffering from a hearing impairment. Friends and family are usually the first to notice that something is wrong. Although there are clear signs that your hearing isn’t what it used to be.
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound passing through the outer and/or middle ear is disrupted. Some examples of these disruptions include excessive earwax in the ear canal, damage to the eardrum (by cotton swabs or other means), fluid buildup in the middle ear with or without infection, and disease of the middle ear bones, such as otosclerosis. Depending on the cause of the conductive hearing loss, other symptoms, such as ear pain, drainage from the ears, or a feeling of pressure or blockage in the ears, may occur.
Conductive hearing loss can often be medically treated, and, in many cases, hearing can be restored.
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when a problem exists in the inner ear of the hearing system or auditory nerve . It is the most common type of hearing loss. Roughly 90 percent of hearing aid wearers have sensorineural hearing loss. The most common causes of sensorineural hearing loss is age (presbycusis), noise exposure, ototoxic drugs, head injury and Meniere’s Disease
Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent, and currently there is no cure. The best treatment option for this type of hearing loss are hearing aids. For people with complete, or profound, sensorineural hearing loss, cochlear implants may also be an option.
Mixed hearing loss can occur when both conductive and sensorineural hearing conditions are present.
If you experience any changes to your hearing or signs that you might have hearing loss, it’s best to have a hearing test
Just as you can have different amounts of vision loss, you can have different degrees of hearing loss, ranging from mild to profound. Your hearing is measured across a range of pitches from low to high. And your degree of hearing loss can vary across pitches. For example, you may have increased hearing loss in the high pitches with minimal loss or normal hearing in the low pitches. In fact, this is the most common configuration of hearing loss and is why you often can hear but can’t always understand what people are saying, since you are missing high-pitched speech sounds
Using hearing aids is one of the most effective ways to treat hearing loss. There is no cure for age-related hearing loss, hearing aids are the best way to help treat hearing loss to ensure you continue enjoying good quality of life.
It all starts with an appointment for a free hearing test. Once you complete this no-cost test, you will be presented with the hearing aid options that work best for your unique hearing.
If you experience any changes to your hearing or signs that you might have hearing loss, it’s best to have a hearing test.
