Untreated hearing loss affects millions of people.
Most of whom don’ t know.
Types of hearing loss:
There are three main types of hearing loss.
This occurs when there is an issue occurring in either the inner ear or the auditory nerve, which delivers sound to the brain.
Causes:
- Aging
- Noise damage
- Drug side effects
- Auditory tumors
- Blast/explosion
This occurs when sound isn’t reaching the inner ear generally because of an obstruction or trauma.
Causes:
- Fluid
- Foreign objects
- Allergies
- Ruptured eardrum
- Impacted earwax
Hearing loss that is a combination of the two.
Causes:
- Genetic disorders
- Infections
- Head trauma
Symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss can include:
- Mumbled or slurred speech, an inability to understand what others are saying.
- Difficulty following a conversation when two or more people are speaking simultaneously.
- Problems listening in train stations, noisy restaurants, sports arenas, construction sites, etc.
- Speech sounds like “s” or “th” are hard to hear during conversations.
- Feeling of being dizzy or off-balance.
Symptoms of conductive hearing loss can include:
- Harder time hearing out of one ear.
- Pain occurring in one or both ears.
- Feeling of pressure in one or both ears.
- Difficulty hearing telephone conversations.
- Foul odor emanating from the ear canal.
Symptoms of mixed hearing loss can include a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss symptoms.
More Than Just Your Ears
Studies have shown that hearing loss negatively impacts physical, emotion and mental health, as well as mental cognitive dissonance, self-esteem and personal relationships, yet people experiencing hearing loss wait an average of seven years before seeking help. Studies over the last decade has shown there is a significant link between hearing loss and other degenerative conditions, such as:
According to the former Surgeon General, social isolation can cause a reduction in lifespan similar to the effect caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Losing the ability to hear the sounds you love can leave a lingering feeling of grief and variations of sadness.
The leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among seniors. A mild degree of hearing loss triples the risk of a fall.
Poor blood flow and trauma to blood vessels can contribute to hearing loss.
Poorly managed diabetes can damage blood vessels, that includes the tiny blood vessels in your ears.
People with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia, and those with moderate to severe hearing loss are five times as likely to develop cognitive impairment.
Suspect you or a loved one has hearing loss?
If you suspect that you or a loved one might be experiencing hearing loss, the first thing you should do is take a hearing test.
You can take it online, but an online hearing screening will only provide a general indication of whether hearing has changed and might not detect fluctuating hearing loss.
A comprehensive hearing test conducted by a qualified professional is the best way to determine if you or a loved one is suffering from hearing loss.
If you suspect that you or a loved one might be experiencing hearing loss, the first thing you should do is take a hearing test.
You can take it online, but an online hearing screening will only provide a general indication of whether hearing has changed and might not detect fluctuating hearing loss.
A comprehensive hearing test conducted by a qualified professional is the best way to determine if you or a loved one is suffering from hearing loss.
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