Have Hearing Loss? Why It’s Important to Treat It Right Away.
With age comes wisdom and something none of us want. Do you know what it is?
It’s an inconvenient truth. Age-related hearing loss affects one in three adults over the age of 65… and it’s not just those over 65 that have to worry. Hearing loss is on the rise across all age groups and demographics.
Hearing loss is an invisible handicap since it sneaks up on you. Hearing loss contributes to social isolation. Many studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between hearing loss and the risk of dementia. Hearing loss causes you to miss subtle cues that your ears pick up that help with balance. It makes your brain work harder just to do ordinary everyday tasks like having a conversation at a restaurant with a friend. If any or all of these apply to you, please make an appointment with us for a comprehensive hearing assessment and management.
Did you know that hearing can be recovered in a sudden hearing loss if early diagnosis and prompt treatment are provided in a time-sensitive manner? If you notice a sudden, drastic change in hearing in one ear, make sure you contact a hearing healthcare provider at the earliest. Hearing loss can be prevented or postponed if proper hearing protective measures are taken.
Hearing loss is problematic, but hearing a lot is just as problematic. If certain sounds drive you up the wall, and you find it challenging to tolerate the sounds you hear regularly, you may experience something known as Hyperacusis or Misophonia. Please make an appointment to help us help you handle this better.
Detecting and treating hearing loss is crucial, as untreated hearing loss can have long-lasting implications for your physical and mental health.
What are the most common types of hearing loss?
Hearing loss generally falls under three categories, defined by the underlying causes of symptoms.
Conductive hearing loss: This type of hearing loss occurs in the outer or middle ear. Conductive hearing loss is often associated with some type of obstruction. For example, an ear infection can cause swelling and fluid build-up that subsequently interferes with your ability to hear. In other cases, conductive hearing loss can be caused by something as simple as a buildup of earwax. This is usually a temporary type of hearing loss that can be fixed with a simple procedure, medicine, or on rare occasions, surgery.
Sensorineural hearing loss: This hearing loss occurs in the inner ear, often due to nerve damage. This type of hearing loss is incurable and tends to get worse with time. When people talk about “age-related hearing loss,” they’re usually referring to sensorineural hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is usually treated with hearing aids or a cochlear implant if you’re a candidate.
Mixed or combination hearing loss: This is when you have a combination of both types of hearing loss. This type may require more than one type of treatment, including hearing aids.
Hearing loss is often caused by exposure to loud noise, but it can also be caused by illness, injury, exposure to toxins, heredity, and other factors.
How to tell if you have hearing loss – Look for these symptoms
How do you know if you have hearing loss or it’s just everyone around you mumbling? Hearing loss can be difficult to self-diagnose, in large part because the symptoms progress quite slowly. Your brain has its own mechanisms for compensating when your ears aren’t functioning quite right, so you may find yourself unconsciously turning up your television volume rather than seeking out help for your hearing loss or even lip-reading.
There are several early signs of hearing loss:
- Conversation sounds muffled or distant.
- Some consonant sounds are difficult to discern.
- It’s difficult to make out conversation when there’s background noise.
- Withdrawal or avoidance of social situations.
- Unexplained fatigue or memory lapses.
Are you hearing complaints from family or friends about having the volume too high? Or that you ask them to repeat themselves a lot? Those are signs too.
If you feel as though you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment so you can undergo a hearing assessment. Hearing assessments will be able to detect whether you have hearing loss and to what extent it might have advanced, paving the way for effective treatment.
Why procrastination can damage your hearing and increase hearing loss
Why wait until it’s too late to fix?
Left untreated, hearing loss can cause significant complications for your health. Because conversations are challenging, people with untreated hearing loss tend to withdraw socially–they visit friends less frequently, talk to others less often, and so on. Over time, this can lead to significant mental health challenges, such as depression and anxiety.
There’s also a significant amount of evidence to suggest that untreated hearing loss substantially increases your risk for the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. The best way to lower these risks is to ensure your hearing loss is addressed with hearing aids.