Did you know that 28 million Americans are hearing impaired and about 500 million are experiencing hearing loss worldwide? According to Starkey Laboratories, Inc., the baby boomers are beginning to identify hearing loss. Individuals between the ages of 45 and 64 years suffer from hearing loss more than individuals over the age of 65.  Hearing loss is affecting more and more of the world’s population each day. This can be due to loud machinery at work, electronics (such as today’s iPods or MP3 Players) or even the sound of heavy traffic. Several other factors can also cause the three types of hearing loss. Even though hearing loss is irreversible, it can be treated by reducing the sound levels that enter the ear canal.

Types of Hearing Loss  

Three types of hearing loss can impair an individual. The first is sensory hearing loss and occurs when damage occurs to the inner ear from aging, an infection or noise. The second type is neural hearing loss; this is caused by aging, a tumor within the ear or damage to the ear nerve or nervous system. The third type is conductive hearing loss; this occurs when the outer and inner ear fail to work properly due to fluid behind the eardrum or a buildup of wax.

Causes of Hearing Loss

In addition to loud noises, several other factors have been identified as culprits of hearing loss; below are some examples.

• Aging – along with all other bodily organs, as a person ages the ear’s abilities begin to slow down and weaken.
• Disease – meningitis, tumors on the hearing nerves, Meniere’s syndrome, mumps, or measles
• Drugs – some examples include diuretics and large doses of aspirin
• Infections – otitis media caused by allergies, sore throat, or viruses
• Malformation – misshaped ear canal
• Noise
• Perforation – changes in pressure due to flying or scuba diving or contact from a cotton swab or another foreign object
• Wax – the buildup of wax can block the sound waves from entering the ear canal; a health professional may remove it. However, do not use a cotton swab or any other foreign object to get rid of the wax; this may cause the wax to go deeper into the ear and may puncture the eardrum.

Identifying the Signs of Hearing Loss

If any of the following statements apply, chances are that you or someone you know is experiencing some form of hearing loss.

• Words are difficult to understand when having a conversation.
• Children and women’s voices are difficult to understand.
• The tendency to favor one ear over the other.
• A ringing sensation exists in one or both ears.
• Social occasions that once were enjoyable are now uncomfortable to attend.
• The need to have people repeat themselves constantly.
• Phone conversations are hard to understand.
• Other friends or family members have noticed the change in hearing ability.

Diagnosing Hearing Loss

Although a person is often able to sense a personal change in hearing ability, there are several ways to diagnose an ear problem. One way is with a basic audiogram that measures hearing ability relative to normal adult levels. A tympanogram assesses the pressure of the middle ear and the eardrum’s mobility. Stapedial reflexes or reflex decay can measure the ability of the auditory nerves to transmit signals to the brain. Finally, the TEN (Threshold Equalizing Noise) test determines if a patient has pitch regions in the ear that do not respond to sound. There are also opportunities to have your ears tested online that involve a series of evaluations and listening tests.  Click here for a test available from Starkey Laboratories.

Treatment

Several treatments are available to people who suffer from hearing loss. How a person will be treated depends on the reason for hearing loss. For younger children who constantly have fluid buildup on the ear canal, a tube placed in the eardrum may be necessary. This helps prevent fluid accumulation. For those who develop tumors, a simple surgery to remove the tumor may be performed. People who suffer from conductive or neural hearing loss may benefit most from a hearing device such as a hearing aide. These hearing aides have microphones that pick up sounds and improve the sound levels that reach the eardrum. Several types of hearing aides are available in many shapes and sizes to best suit the user.

Source: Mayo Clinic, Starkey Laboratories