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Hearing loss is rarely sudden or total, unless you are exposed to an exceptionally loud noise or head trauma. It’s usually gradual —sometimes so gradual that your family and friends may notice the problem before you do. Here are 10 questions to help determine whether you (or a loved one) should have your hearing tested.
- Do you have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time?
- Do you have difficulty hearing over the telephone?
- Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high?
- Do you have to strain to understand conversation?
- Do you have trouble hearing in a noisy background?
- Do you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves?
- Do the people you talk to seem to mumble or speak unclearly?
- Do you misunderstand what others are saying frequently?
- Do you have trouble understanding soft speech or voices?
- Are people frequently annoyed due to your misunderstanding of what was said?
- The need to constantly raise the TV volume is a telling sign that one has a hearing loss
If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, schedule a professional hearing evaluation with an Audiologist.
Causes of hearing loss
Impaired hearing is often associated with advancing age, but this is not always the case. Although people of any age can lose their hearing, hearing loss is most common after the age of 65. Other causes of hearing loss can be infections, diseases of the ear, accidents, noise, drugs, etc.
Age-related hearing loss
Statistics show that we start to lose our hearing in our thirties and forties! Age-related hearing loss is called presbyacusis . It is caused by damage to tiny hair cells in the inner ear, but these cells do not grow back, so the damage is permanent.
Noise-related hearing loss
This type of hearing loss occurs due to heavy exposure to noise. Mechanics, builders, farmers, factory workers, police officers and even teachers are often exposed to high levels of noise. It is recommended to use hearing protection to protect your hearing and prevent premature hearing loss.