Hearing Loss

Hearing matters

Importance of Proper Hearing

Being able to hear is an important part of an active and enjoyable life. As you know, hearing is an empowering sense that assists us in daily living, contributing to socializing, working, and communication with others. It also keeps us connected to the outside world and provides safety and awareness of potential danger in our surroundings. Hearing is one of our most important senses and contributes greatly to our overall well-being, therefore it’s critical to protect and look after our ears regularly to prevent damage.

Who’s Affected?

Hearing loss does not discriminate. Did you know that approximately 360 million people (over 5% of the world’s population) are affected by hearing loss? Alarmingly, it is estimated that half of all cases could be avoided through prevention and medical treatment.

Gradual hearing loss can occur in people of all ages and can range from mild to severe.  It can occur suddenly or it may be a gradual process depending on its cause.

Unfortunately when hearing declines, other areas in your life can also present challenges. Following conversations or understanding what’s being discussed in a business meeting can be extremely difficult, and when environments are noisy to begin with, the challenge is even greater.  The good news is that there are quality hearing solutions available to assist those with hearing loss.

Why Does Hearing Loss Occur?

As mentioned, hearing loss happens for a variety of reasons. In the majority of hearing loss cases, the symptoms are caused by damage to the inner ear. Aging and persistent exposure to loud noise can negatively impact the hairs or nerve cells in the cochlea, damaging them so that there are no electrical signals being transmitted properly, which prevent sound signals from entering the brain. This process is what typically leads to hearing loss, and throughout our website you will learn more about the specific types of hearing loss and how they differ.

Generally Hearing Loss Comes Down to:

• Age

Presbycusis is a type of sensorineural hearing loss that is usually age-related and affects people as they get older. This type of hearing loss is irreversible, but there are several products one can choose from for hearing assistance. Hearing aids are a common source of relief and management to help an individual hear better and feel more confident in their everyday lives.  Through assistive technology, age-related hearing loss can be managed allowing you to communicate more effectively and enjoy the things you love doing.

• Exposure to noise

Hearing loss from noise exposure is triggered by prolonged experiences to loud sounds. Constant exposure to day-to-day noise such as traffic, construction work, loud work settings or loud music, can result in damaged hearing. Noise-induced hearing loss is typically temporary, but if you are exposed to loud noise repeatedly, it can be difficult for your ears to recover properly in between occurrences. The ongoing noise deteriorates the inner ear hair cells, which leads to hearing loss over time, risking permanent damage.

• Illness

There are endless illnesses and disorders which could play a direct role in hearing loss including:

Otosclerosis: This is a disease that affects the movement of the tiny bones in the middle ear which leads to conductive hearing loss; this form of hearing loss can usually be treated with appropriate surgery.

Meniere’s: The cause of this particular disease has not yet been determined, but signs and symptoms that are often experienced include: vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, and tinnitus.

• Medicine or drugs

There are many medications that have been associated with permanent hearing loss. These may include the following:

• aminoglycoside antibiotics.
• aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• chemotherapy drugs.

Normally, you must consume great quantities of these medications to notice any real effects of hearing loss, but ongoing research is being performed to learn more about the further effects of specific dosages and medications and how they pertain to hearing loss.

When hearing loss starts, other things can be lost too, such as social connection and the ability to communicate. Even physical health can deteriorate.