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FAQ's
For most people, hearing loss is so gradual
that it is hardly noticed—and is usually detected first by
family, friends, or a hearing test.
You should suspect a hearing loss if you
. . .
- Have been exposed to high noise levels, such
as loud music, trucks or tractors, machinery in factories,
firearms, or power tools without adequate ear protection.
- Feel growing nervous tension, irritability,
or fatigue from the effort to hear.
- Are inclined to believe that “everybody mumbles”
or “people don’t speak as clearly as they used to.”
- Find yourself straining to understand conversation
in social settings or at work.
- Frequently misunderstand or need to have
things repeated.
- Find yourself watching people’s faces intently
when you are listening.
- Increase the television or radio volume to
a point that others complain of the loudness.
- Have a family history of hearing loss.
- Have diabetes, heart, thyroid, or circulation
problems.
- Have been exposed to ototoxic drugs or medications.
- Have recurring ear infections, constant ringing
in the ears, or dizziness.
There are many other clues to possible hearing loss. The
list above provides examples of the more frequent indicators.
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How our hearing works:
As sound passes through each ear, it sets off a chain reaction
that could be compared to the toppling of dominoes.
First, the outer ear collects pressure (or sound) waves and
funnels them through the ear canal. These vibrations strike
the eardrum; then the delicate bones of the middle ear conduct
the vibrations to the fluid in the inner ear. This stimulates
the tiny nerve endings, called hair cells, which transform
the vibrations into electrochemical impulses. The impulses
travel to the brain where they are deciphered into sounds
you recognize.
Sensorineural or “nerve” hearing loss results from damage
to the hair cells, nerve fibers, or both in the inner ear.
This is the most common type of hearing loss and is often
caused by aging or prolonged exposure to noise. It can also
be caused by high fever, birth defects, and certain drugs.
People with sensorineural hearing loss can hear speech, but
frequently have difficulty understanding it. The problem is
usually compounded when background noise is present.
Sensorineural hearing loss is most commonly treated by the
use of a hearing instrument and generally cannot be corrected
through surgery or medicine.
What is a mixed hearing loss?
Persons with both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss
are commonly referred to as having mixed hearing loss. Most
of these cases can be helped by either a hearing instrument
or surgery.
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Can a one-time exposure to an unexpected, extremely
loud, painful noise cause damage?
Yes. This can cause damage at times, but there are also times
when it does not. It depends upon the circumstances, how close
the loud noise was to the ear, and whether or not it occurred
in an open space or in a closed area.
Prevention:
- Wear earplugs if you are exposed to noise
levels that may be harmful to your ears. Cotton balls are
not sufficient, as they do not block enough sound; they
can also become lodged deep in the ear canal.
- Do not listen to loud music with earphones.
- If you are at a concert and the music hurts
your ears, put on earplugs or leave immediately. The overamplified
sound may cause permanent damage.
- Educate your children about the danger of
loud recreational noise.
- If you ride a subway, wear earplugs or cover
your ears with your hands as the trains pass. The roar of
the trains can damage your ears.
- To lower the risk of infectious diseases
that may lead to permanent hearing loss, make sure your
children receive all of their immunizations.
- If your ears tend to get severely blocked
with wax frequently, clean them periodically with hydrogen
peroxide.
- Be sure to report any sudden hearing loss
to your doctor immediately
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Some 28 million people in the United States
have a hearing problem significant enough to interfere with
their ability to understand conversations and communicate
with others. As many as 2 million cannot hear at all and are
considered profoundly deaf. Your chances of having a hearing
problem increase dramatically with age. More than one-third
of people over the age of 75 experience difficulty hearing,
a problem that often leads to frustration and social isolation.
One form of age-related hearing loss—known as presbycusia—usually
begins between the ages of 40 and 50 and gets progressively
worse. People with presbycusia often have trouble hearing
higher frequencies and thus find it particularly difficult
to understand women and children, who generally speak at a
higher pitch than men do. Presbycusia tends to afflict men
more frequently and more severely than women.
Hearing problems are less common in children, but if left
untreated, they can have a major impact on how well a child
learns and makes friends. About 3 in 1,000 infants have a
hearing problem severe enough to interfere with speech and
language development.
Doctors divide hearing loss into two main
categories:
- Conductive hearing loss occurs when
something interferes with the transfer of sound waves from
the outer to the inner ear, and
- Sensorineural hearing loss results
from damage to the inner ear or to the nerves that transmit
sound impulses from the inner ear to the brain. Sounds may
reach the inner ear, but they are not perceived because
the necessary messages aren’t sent to the brain correctly.
Sometimes a person has a mixture of both
types of hearing loss.
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Chelmsford, MA 01824
Toll Free 888-644-HEAR · Phone
978-250-3331 · Fax 978-250-3588
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