 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
|
Would you repeat that, please? |
|||
|
|||
|
Hearing loss can cut you off from the world around you. Fortunately, many tools are available to help. The impact of hearing loss can be devastating, leading to frustration, misunderstandings, embarrassment and even isolation. If you're struggling with hearing loss, you have a lot of company: Nearly 30 million Americans face this challenge. But solutions are available to help you cope in a hearing world. Below are answers to some questions you may have about hearing problems. Q. What causes hearing loss? A. One type of hearing loss, called conductive hearing loss, occurs when sound waves are blocked from reaching the inner ear. Many things can cause this, including buildup of earwax, fluid behind the eardrum in the middle ear or a punctured eardrum. Hearing loss also can occur when the inner ear or auditory nerve is damaged. This can occur over time with age (called presbycusis). Contributing factors include heredity, infections and certain illnesses. The inner ear can also be damaged by noise, either loud noise or lower levels of noise over long periods. This type of hearing loss is called noise-induced hearing loss. Q. What's that ringing in my ears? A. It's called tinnitus, and it often goes along with hearing problems. Tinnitus can occur after exposure to a loud noise. It can also be caused by certain medicines or by health problems. Q. What are the signs that hearing loss has occurred? A. Hearing loss can be abrupt if caused by an explosion or other loud sound, or it can sneak up on you gradually. Signs include: • Sounds are muffled. • You need to turn up the volume on the television, radio or phone, and others complain that you turn the volume too high. • You have trouble understanding what people are saying, especially if you can't see their mouths when they talk or other people around you are talking. • Background noise makes hearing even more difficult. Q. Can ear infections cause hearing loss in children? A. While ear infections can lead to hearing loss - in both adults and children - this usually doesn't happen if the infection is treated and resolves. However, a slight hearing loss may follow an infection for several weeks. Follow up with your doctor to ensure these infections don't lead to permanent hearing loss. |
Q. What tests are typically used to check hearing? A. Your family doctor may carefully examine your ears and perform simple hearing tests, or refer you to an audiologist (hearing specialist) for testing. These tests, which are painless, will measure how well you hear sounds at different pitches and volumes. Q. What treatments are available for hearing loss? A. Hearing loss that occurs when sound waves cannot reach the inner ear can usually be relieved with treatment. The specific treatment depends on the cause and may range from removing earwax to taking antibiotics (for an infection) to having surgery (to repair a punctured eardrum). Hearing loss that is due to age may not be reversible. However, hearing aids can be of tremendous benefit. Hearing aids amplify sound. Sadly, only 20% of people who would benefit by using hearing aids actually use them. Other devices also can be helpful. Some examples include equipment designed specifically to help people hear better when talking on the phone, watching television or listening to music. Cochlear implants, which are tiny devices surgically placed under the skin behind the ear, can help people who are deaf or who have severe hearing loss. Cochlear implants change sounds to electrical signals and send those signals to the brain, bypassing damaged parts of the inner ear. Cochlear implants can be useful in children who are born with hearing problems and in adults who have experienced severe hearing loss later in life. Sarah J. West is editorial director and vice president of Source Publications in Tulsa, Okla. |
||
