Signs of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss affects approximately 35 million Americans.  According to the World Health Organization, by 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss.  It is one of the most common health concerns.  Hearing loss can occur gradually over many years and may go unnoticed. The following are signs that your hearing may be changing:

• Ringing or other sounds in your ears
• Fatigue at the end of the day from straining to hear
• Asking others to repeat often
• Difficulty hearing in situations with background noise
• Increasing the volume on the television or radio
• Difficulty hearing the doorbell or telephone ringing
• Difficulty hearing on the telephone
• Difficulty hearing soft speech or hearing high pitched voices
• Watching other people’s faces to follow the conversation
• Misunderstanding what people are saying
• Feeling that people are mumbling

There are many different causes of hearing loss.  Hearing loss may be as a result of one or more of the following:

• Changes in your ears due to aging
• An injury or infection that has damaged your ear
• Noise exposure
• A history of hearing loss in your family
• Ototoxic medications
• Certain medical conditions (diabetes, ear infections, high blood pressure)

Impact of unaddressed hearing loss:

• Social isolation
• Adversely affected cognition
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Frustration for you and those around you

Prevention:

The following are tips that may help preserve your hearing sensitivity:

• Turn down the volume with portable music devices.  The utilization of earbuds with these devices can damage the fragile hair cells in the inner ear when cranked to a loud volume.  Invest in noise canceling earbuds that will reduce background noise so the volume doesn’t have to be raised.
• Use hearing protection/earplugs for sporting events (i.e. racing events), hunting, shooting on the range, attending concerts and when running equipment (i.e. construction, lawn or wood working tools)
• Maintain healthy blood pressure and blood sugar levels.  Diabetes doubles your risk for hearing issues.  High blood pressure has also been linked to hearing problems.
• Seek medical attention for chronic ear issues (such as ear infections).

Detect hearing loss early:

Hearing loss is easier to treat when it is detected early on and treatment may include hearing instruments.  Hearing instruments can enhance your quality of life by possibly improving your ability to enjoy music and engage in social activities.  They can also help individuals to be more aware of their surroundings such as traffic signals, warning sirens and emergency alerts.   Research suggests that using hearing instruments may help slow down cognitive decline. 

The month of May has been designated by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as “National Speech Language Hearing Month”. This national and professional organization is comprised of approximately 228,000 Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists.  The month of May is a time to raise public awareness, knowledge and understanding of various forms of communication impairments to include those of hearing, speech, language and voice. 

If you are experiencing these signs, it may be time to make an appointment with an Audiologist.  An audiologist is a licensed hearing healthcare professional trained to identify, diagnose, treat and monitor hearing and balance disorders. Hearing loss is a treatable condition.  Witham Health Services has experienced Audiologists accepting new patients at our Lebanon, Frankfort and Whitestown locations.  Our offices can be reached by contacting 765-485-8687.