Hearing loss is a common problem that is primarily caused by noise, aging, disease, and your genetics. Hearing loss may make it difficult for people to converse with their friends and family members. They may also have a hard time understanding a doctor's advice, hearing doorbells and alarms, and responding to warnings.
Nearly half of all people older than 75 have difficulty hearing; and, approximately one out of three people between 65 and 74 have hearing loss. While some people may not want to admit they have trouble hearing, if you or a loved one begin to recognize some form of hearing issues, you’ll want to schedule a visit with a hearing aid center. Hearing problems that are ignored or untreated can only get worse. To learn more about common hearing loss issues, read on.
Here are some common hearing loss issues that warrant a visit to a hearing center:
General Signs of Hearing Loss
Types of Hearing Loss
Sudden Hearing Loss
Consistent Ear Ringing
Coping with Hearing Loss
General Signs of Hearing Loss
Many people suffering from early on-set hearing loss, may not even recognize that there is an issue! However, there are some general signs to be aware of if you are concerned about your own hearing or that of a loved one. You should schedule an appointment with your doctor if you notice the following:
You or a loved one is having difficulty hearing over on phone calls
You have difficulty following conversations when there are more people involved
You or a loved one often asks people to repeat what they said
You need to listen to the tv, radio or speaker at a very high volume
Background noise has become unbearable or undetectable
Types of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss comes in many forms. Ranging from a mild loss to a total loss of hearing sensation, you or a loved one may be experiencing a lack of high-pitched sounds or the inability to understand anything in their surrounding environment.
Typically, there are two categories of hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the auditory nerve or the inner ear is damaged. In most cases, this type of hearing loss is permanent. Secondly, conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves cannot reach the inner ear. A buildup of earwax, fluid, or a punctured eardrum can sometimes be the cause, but there may be a larger issue at play. Typically, conductive hearing loss can be treated or restored with surgery.
Sudden Hearing Loss
A sudden loss of hearing is often associated with sudden sensorineural hearing loss, or sudden deafness. This type of hearing loss can occur for an individual of any age, all at once or over a period of up to 3 days. Sudden hearing loss should be considered a medical emergency, and would warrant a trip to your local hearing aid specialist. If you or a loved one is experiencing or showing signs of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, visit a doctor immediately.
Schedule an appointment with our OAT Hearing Aid Center to determine the type of hearing loss you are experiencing.
Consistent Ear Ringing
Tinnitus is another common hearing issue that would warrant a trip to a hearing specialist. Typically described as ringing in the ears, tinnitus can also sound like roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing. While these sounds can come and go, this is often the first sign of hearing loss in older adults. Besides hearing loss, tinnitus can be caused by high blood pressure, allergies, or a side effect of certain medications.
Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom. Tinnitus can be caused by anything from earwax blocking the ear canal to a number of different health conditions. To ensure you receive a proper diagnosis of your consistent ear ringing, be sure to visit your doctor as soon as possible.
Coping with Hearing Loss
If you notice signs of hearing loss, talk to your doctor. If you have trouble hearing, you should always let people know you have a hearing problem, especially the people closest to you. You can also work on asking people to face you when speaking and to speak slowly and clearly as you figure out what type of hearing loss, if any, is occurring.
Another great way to cope with hearing loss early on is to place yourself between a speaker and other sources of noise, or simply look for quieter places to talk. The most important thing you can do when coping with potential hearing loss is to seek professional advice from specialists at a hearing aid center.
OAT, a Nashville Hearing Center
Even if you may not need hearing aids, you might find that a hearing aid specialist can offer the best medical attention and advice when it comes to hearing loss. Here at OAT, we offer a wide range of assistive listening technology to give you the best hearing experience including, amplified telephones, partner microphones, television enhancement devices, caption telephones, alerting devices and personal amplification systems.
There are a lot of things to consider when deciding which type of hearing care solutions will best suit your needs. At OAT, we want you to get the most out of your hearing loss experience. So, we created a guide to help you find the right solutions.
Contact our OAT Hearing Aid Center today to receive optimum hearing loss care from our specialists.
