Most of the time hearing difficulties begin gradually without discomfort or pain. What's more, family members often learn to adapt to someone’s hearing loss without even realizing they are doing it. Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine whether you have hearing loss.
Do you/ they feel that people mumble and do not speak clearly?
Do you/ they feel that people mumble and do not speak clearly?
- Do you/ they understand some people better than others?
- Do you/ they frequently ask people to speak up or repeat themselves?
- Do you/ they have difficulty understanding on the phone?
- Do you/ they find it difficult to follow a conversation in a crowded room or with background noise?
- Do you/ they turn the volume of the television or radio up louder than is comfortable for others?
- Do you/ they find it difficult to hear in public places?
- Do family and friends comment on your/ their inability to hear?
- Do you/ they ever concentrate to listen so hard that you become fatigued?
- Do you/ they have ringing in your ears?
- Do you/ they often ask people to repeat themselves?
There are several causes. The main ones include excessive noise,birth defects, genetics, infections of the head or ear, aging, and reaction to drugs or cancer treatment. Each type of hearing loss has different causes.
There are three types of hearing loss including:, conductive hearing loss,sensorineural hearing lossand mixed hearing loss. Most people lose at least some degree of their hearing as they age, and by the time they reach age 65 and older, one in three people has some type of hearing impairment.
Yes, hearing aids are available for those with single-sided hearing loss. The CROS System delivers solutions for:
Those who are unable to hear in one ear and have normal hearing in the other ear (CROS)
Those with little to no hearing in one of their ears, and a hearing loss in their better ear (BiCROS).
Those who are unable to hear in one ear and have normal hearing in the other ear (CROS)
Those with little to no hearing in one of their ears, and a hearing loss in their better ear (BiCROS).
Only 5 percent of hearing loss in adults can be improved medically or surgically. The vast majority with hearing loss (95 percent) are treated with hearing aids.
Audiologists are professionals with master's degrees, Au.D.s or Ph.D.s in audiology, which is the study of hearing. They specialize in testing, evaluating and treating hearing loss.
You should make an appointment with a hearing professional like an audiologist, hearing aid specialist or ENT for an evaluation, consultation and hearing test.
When seeking treatment for hearing loss, be sure to select a hearing professional who understands the available technology and offers follow-up care.
While you are no doubt concerned about appearance, compensating for a hearing loss by asking people to repeat themselves, inappropriately responding to people (or not responding at all), or even withdrawing from social situations is more obvious than wearing a hearing aid.
Today’s hearing aids are small, discreet and more stylish than ever. Some are even invisible. And, chances are that once you have a hearing aid, your quality of life will improve so much that cosmetics won't be as much of an issue for you.
While hearing aids have helped millions of people around the world improve their hearing experience and quality of life, there are still some misconceptions about them. Don’t let these common myths keep you or someone you care about from getting help to overcome hearing loss.
Today’s hearing aids are small, discreet and more stylish than ever. Some are even invisible. And, chances are that once you have a hearing aid, your quality of life will improve so much that cosmetics won't be as much of an issue for you.
While hearing aids have helped millions of people around the world improve their hearing experience and quality of life, there are still some misconceptions about them. Don’t let these common myths keep you or someone you care about from getting help to overcome hearing loss.
Research on people with hearing loss and their significant others has shown that hearing aids play a significant factor in a person's social, emotional, psychological and physical well-being.
More specifically, treatment of hearing loss has been shown to improve:
More specifically, treatment of hearing loss has been shown to improve:
- Communication in relationships
- Intimacy and warmth in family relationships
- Ease in communication
- Earning power
- Sense of control over your life
- Social participation
- Emotional stability
While no hearing aid can restore your hearing to normal (except in cases of very mild hearing loss), hearing aids are designed to let you hear soft sounds that you could not hear before, and prevent loud sounds from becoming uncomfortably loud for you. They are also designed to improve your ability to understand speech, even in noisy environments.
Almost anyone who is experiencing difficulty with communication due to hearing loss is a candidate for hearing devices. There are some hearing losses that can be medically treated without a need for amplification (hearing aids). However, that is typically the exception and not the rule. The good news is there are usually warning signs that there is a possible hearing loss.
There are several factors that will determine which hearing aid will be the right one for you. They include the
- Nature and severity of your hearing loss,
- Your lifestyle and the activities you regularly enjoy
- Your profession
- Your eyesight and dexterity
- The size and shape of your outer ear and inner ear canal.
Two-ear hearing (called "binaural") is better than one. If you have hearing loss in only one ear, you may be fine with one hearing aid. Age and noise-related hearing loss tend to affect both ears, but your hearing profile for each ear is probably different. If there is a loss in both ears, you will probably benefit more with a binaural solution. Today, about two-thirds of new users opt for dual hearing aids, and as a group they report a higher level of satisfaction than purchasers of a single hearing aid.
While no hearing aid can filter out all background noise, our advanced hearing aids are designed to reduce some types of background noise so that you can enjoy conversation and improve communication in places like restaurants, business meetings and social gatherings.
Like many other high-tech devices (TVs, phones, computers), hearing aids have experienced a major technological revolution in the past decade and especially in the last few years.
The best of today’s hearing aids are designed to track body and brain health, virtually eliminate feedback, make listening in noisy environments easier and more comfortable, stream stereo sound from TVs and radios directly to the hearing aid itself, let you talk on your phone hands-free, and much more. Now, instruments are smaller (and in some cases, invisible), more comfortable, rechargeable and powerful than ever.
The best of today’s hearing aids are designed to track body and brain health, virtually eliminate feedback, make listening in noisy environments easier and more comfortable, stream stereo sound from TVs and radios directly to the hearing aid itself, let you talk on your phone hands-free, and much more. Now, instruments are smaller (and in some cases, invisible), more comfortable, rechargeable and powerful than ever.
Yes. Most people need an adjustment period of up to three to four months before becoming adapted to — and receiving the full benefit of — wearing their hearing aids. However, you should expect to notice obvious benefits during thisperiod. Remember, your Audiologistis there to help. Do not be anxious to call or visit to discuss your concerns.
1. Be realistic.
Remember that your hearing loss has been gradual; over the years you have lost the ability to hear certain sounds in the speech spectrum and normal sounds of the environment, such as traffic and wind noise, the hum of machinery and other background noises.
2. Practice.
When you begin to wear hearing aids, these sounds will be restored but your brain will need practice and re-education in order to selectively focus on and filter sounds. Some sounds may even startle you at first. Know that your brain will adapt to these sounds again over time.
3. Be patient.
It takes time to adapt to hearing aids. Wear them as much as possible at first to become more skilled at recognizing sound direction and to learn which hearing aid settings work best for you in different situations.
4. Rest.
The adjustment period may be tiresome. It’s a lot like retraining a muscle that hasn’t been used in a while. But the benefits will be worth it after you’ve made the change.
1. Be realistic.
Remember that your hearing loss has been gradual; over the years you have lost the ability to hear certain sounds in the speech spectrum and normal sounds of the environment, such as traffic and wind noise, the hum of machinery and other background noises.
2. Practice.
When you begin to wear hearing aids, these sounds will be restored but your brain will need practice and re-education in order to selectively focus on and filter sounds. Some sounds may even startle you at first. Know that your brain will adapt to these sounds again over time.
3. Be patient.
It takes time to adapt to hearing aids. Wear them as much as possible at first to become more skilled at recognizing sound direction and to learn which hearing aid settings work best for you in different situations.
4. Rest.
The adjustment period may be tiresome. It’s a lot like retraining a muscle that hasn’t been used in a while. But the benefits will be worth it after you’ve made the change.
Inexpensive models are simply hearing amplifiers that will make everything louder (including all the ambient noises around you). They will not, for example, separate human voices from background noises, or hear directional sounds like today’s more sophisticated hearing aids are designed to do.
Hearing loss can occur for a number of reasons. As people age, they may begin to lose their hearing as a result of the natural aging process. Your hearing health contributes to your overall well-being and quality of life. Begin your journey to better overall health today.
Ringing (tinnitus is the technical term) in the absence of stimulating sound from outside the ear can be caused by many things. It is believed that the ringing is due to spontaneous activity in the cochlea. The most common cause of tinnitus is hearing loss, and in particular sensorineural hearing loss. This is probably because patients with sensorineural hearing loss have some damage in the cochlea that is causing the hearing loss. It is these damaged sections that are presumed to be producing the spontaneous activity that leads a patient to hear sounds in their ear.
If you have hearing loss that is caused by a medically treatable problem, the problem could obviously get worse over time without treatment. If the hearing loss is due to a condition such as a lesion or tumour in the auditory system, this could be potentially life threatening.
Whether the condition is medically treatable such as most conductive losses, or due to damage such as noise exposure or age, the result in the brain is the same, it does not get stimulated. This is called auditory deprivation. The brain is not getting stimulated by sound or is getting distorted versions of the sound due to the damage in the auditory system.
The longer the patient goes without treatment (including amplification if that is warranted) the more likely it is the brain will forget how to hear and understand speech even after treatment is implemented. These findings suggest that it is important to seek appropriate treatment in a timely manner for hearing loss if the brain is to maintain its ability to understand speech.
Whether the condition is medically treatable such as most conductive losses, or due to damage such as noise exposure or age, the result in the brain is the same, it does not get stimulated. This is called auditory deprivation. The brain is not getting stimulated by sound or is getting distorted versions of the sound due to the damage in the auditory system.
The longer the patient goes without treatment (including amplification if that is warranted) the more likely it is the brain will forget how to hear and understand speech even after treatment is implemented. These findings suggest that it is important to seek appropriate treatment in a timely manner for hearing loss if the brain is to maintain its ability to understand speech.