Hearing Loss – A Brief Overview
Hearing loss can result from a variety of factors and can occur at any age. There are, however, some risk factors that increase the chances that an individual will have diminished hearing capacity as they are exposed to them. Nearly one in two people over 65 experience hearing loss, so chances are high that you will experience some sort of hearing loss in your lifetime. Luckily, there are steps that you can take to mitigate the risk of hearing loss.
Causes Of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can occur after you’re exposed to excessive noise, a build-up of earwax, or other kinds of damage to the ears. Hearing loss can also occur due to aging and just plain heredity. Make sure that you minimize your risk factors for this problem, especially ones that can creep up over time.
Excessive Noise
Loud noises damage hearing through actual physical damage to the eardrum or the bones in the ear. Use care when listening to loud music with headphones or when attending loud concerts. Consistent exposure to loud noise in the workplace (or while enjoying hobbies) can also damage hearing.
Excessive Earwax
Earwax can build up over time and cause an obstruction in the ear. Cleaning your ears yourself with a cotton swab can actually push the wax further back into the ear canal, exacerbating the obstruction. Luckily, this is a problem that can be solved. A doctor can safely and hygienically remove the wax for you.
Aging
Small hairs inside of our ears help us absorb and hear sound. If these hairs get damaged over time, it can lead to hearing loss. Unfortunately, these hairs do not grow back, and many people lose them as they age. There is little that can be done at that point to address this cause of hearing loss. Fortunately, devices like hearing aids can help address the problem. If you’re considering buying a hearing aid, hearing aid reviews can help you find the right brand that fits your needs and budget
Heredity And Illness
Your genetic makeup can make you more predisposed to hearing loss factors such as the decimation of the tiny hairs in your ear or the damage to ear structure caused by loud sounds. Illness can cause damage to the ear directly. Additionally, some medicines or treatments like chemotherapy can have side effects that include hearing loss.
How Do I Know If I Have Hearing Loss?
The best way to figure out if you have hearing loss is to seek out an audiologist to conduct a hearing test and determine if you suffer from this condition. If you suspect that your hearing has been damaged, or if a loved one tells you that you cannot hear as well as you used to, a hearing test can help get you answers.
Hearing Tests
During a hearing test, the doctor will first conduct an assessment of your family history and other risk factors, including your history of exposure to loud noise. The doctor will then conduct an inspection of your ear canal and ear drums before asking you to enter a hearing booth for a series of sound tests. Depending on your needs and risk factors, you may be asked to undergo speech testing, middle-ear testing, pure-tone testing, and other tests. The doctor can then diagnose the degree of your hearing loss and make recommendations for treatment.
Getting A Hearing Test From A Qualified Clinic To Determine Your Hearing Loss
Only a qualified doctor can conduct an assessment and a hearing test to help you get answers as to whether you have sustained hearing loss, and to what extent treatment is recommended. An audiologist in Raleigh, NC can test your ears to see if you have experienced hearing loss and if you are eligible for hearing aids or other devices.
Hearing loss occurs due to aging, consistent exposure to loud noise, heredity, ear wax buildup, and a variety of other factors. Severe hearing loss may require hearing aids, so seeking out an audiologist for a hearing test can help you get answers.
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