Hearing
Loss
Hearing
loss affects 38 million Americans. And almost two-thirds of
those affected by hearing loss are over the age of 55.
Being
aware of hearing loss as you grow older is important, as impaired
hearing can have a negative impact on your quality of life.
It may restrict your ability to interact with other people,
and make you more dependent upon others. Also, hearing loss
can pose a safety risk by making it difficult to identify
hazards in your environment.
As you
read this page, you'll learn more about hearing loss and new
research in this field. You'll also find a quiz to help you
determine if you might be suffering from impaired hearing.
What
You Should Know About Hearing Loss
The onset of hearing loss may be very gradual. Sometimes it
occurs over a 25- to 30-year period. But it may also be rapid,
if your hobbies involve repeated exposure to loud noises.
Many people
with hearing loss are not aware of it until someone else brings
it to their attention. The quiz in this section can help you
determine if you might have a hearing problem that requires
medical treatment.
There
are many possible causes of hearing loss, including:
- Trauma
- Repeated
exposure to loud noises
- Side
effects of medications
- Inherited
abnormalities
- Certain
viral or bacterial infections
 Age-related
hearing loss
The most common cause of hearing loss is simply the action
of growing older. Also called presbycusis, age-related hearing
loss may have a number of causes, including:
- An
inherited vulnerability
- Natural
aging processes that affect hearing
- The
cumulative effect of a lifetime's exposure to noise
Properly
selected and fitted hearing aids can help most people suffering
from hearing loss. Many different types of hearing aids exist.
They vary by size, where they are placed in the ear, and how
they process sounds.
Because
modern hearing aids are so complex, seeing a specialist to
find one that's right for you is important.
New
Research in Age-Related Hearing Loss
A "cure" for age-related hearing loss would affect
millions of people. By better understanding how the brain
hears and what goes wrong when hearing is impaired, scientists
hope to develop effective therapies that may delay, prevent,
or even reverse hearing loss.
Already,
several genes have been identified that play essential roles
in the production and function of sensory hair cells in our
ears. These cells are essential to the hearing process. As
we age, some of the hair cells in become damaged or lost,
causing impaired hearing.
Scientists
are now investigating ways to use the genes they've identified
to stimulate regrowth of hair cells damaged by age-related
processes. Many experts believe this may be the key to reversing
hearing loss.
Animal
studies are currently being conducted to determine how feasible
this approach is, and whether it may hold promise for people.
Having
Trouble Hearing?
Take this simple self-test to see if you might have impaired
hearing. Consult a doctor if your answers indicate a possible
problem.
- Do
you often need to turn the volume up on the television?
- Do
you frequently have to ask others to repeat themselves?
- Do
you have difficulty understanding people when you are in
groups or noisy situations?
- Do
you have to sit up front in meetings or church in order
to understand?
- Do
you have difficulty understanding women or young children?
- Do
you have trouble knowing where sounds are coming from?
- Are
you unable to understand when someone talks to you from
another room?
- Have
others told you that you don't seem to hear them?
- Do
you avoid family meetings or social situations because you
"can't understand"?
- Do
you have ringing or other noises (tinnitus) in your ears?
Scoring:
If you answered "yes" to fewer than three
of the questions, you may have no significant hearing loss.
If you
answered yes to three to five of the questions, you may have
a slight hearing problem.*
If you
answered yes to five to seven of the questions, you may have
a moderate hearing problem.*
If you
answered yes to more than seven of the questions, you may
have a significant hearing problem.*
*In order
to determine the exact degree of hearing loss present, you
should have your hearing evaluated by a licensed hearing professional.
Source:
Self-Help for Hard-of-Hearing People
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