Do you have hearing loss? You may and not even know it. Hearing loss is more prevalent in the US than many of us would suspect. Not only is it common but often misunderstood. It’s important to understand how hearing loss works, how to prevent it and what to do if you are one of the many Americans who deal with this chronic condition.
Total Number of Americans with Hearing Loss
The Hearing Loss Association of America reports that approximately 48 million Americans have hearing loss. Commonly associated with old age, while it’s true that one in three over 65 and half of those 75 years and older have hearing loss it can affect people of all ages and demographics. This includes Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) aged 18 and over report some trouble hearing and about 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States, who are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears.
What Causes Hearing Loss?
There are many causes of hearing loss. While the most common by far is age related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis, due to changes in the ear as we age there are several surprising causes. The most common after presbycusis is noise induced hearing loss which occurs when the tiny cell of the inner ear, which transfer sound to the brain, become damaged due to volumes loud enough to cause them to shatter against the cell membrane which houses them. These tiny hair-like cells are called stereocilia and are the sole transport of audio information to the brain, via the auditory nerve.
Other common sources of hearing loss come from often unpredictable head injuries in automobile or sports accidents. There are also many prescriptions and over the counter medications which can contribute to hearing loss as well as environmental toxins which damage the cells of the inner ear.
Types of Hearing Loss
When damage occurs to the stereocilia it is caused sensorineural hearing loss. Making up 70-80 percent of all cases of hearing loss it is an irreversible condition and must be treated rather than cured. The other type of hearing loss is conductive which occurs when a blockage or buildup is present in the ear canal which may stem from a swelling infection, a foreign object lodge in the ear canal or an impaction of earwax. In the case of conductive hearing loss, it can be reversed in most cases when the blockage is cleared.
The Dangers of Unaddressed Hearing Loss
When hearing loss goes unaddressed it can have devastating effects across an individual’s life. First a communication issue, hearing loss affects a person’s ability to connect to the people in their life, at home, out and about and on a professional level. It’s common for untreated hearing loss to cause serious rifts in personal relationships and affect a person’s success and earning in their professional career. As relationships suffer throughout, it affects a person’s mood, self-confidence, and likeliness to try new things. In a domino effect, chronic depression affects a person’s life choices, diet, activity and increases the risk of a wide range of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and an increased risk of accidents and falls that can lead to hospitalization.
In addition, untreated hearing loss forces your brain to miss sounds which make up part of words. Not only dose this cause exhaustion but increases the risk of dementia exponentially depending on the severity of the loss.
Treating Hearing Loss
The most common treatment for hearing loss is hearing aids, which amplify the sounds you need to hear, based on your latest hearing exam. These state of the art devices lead the industry on the development of micro computer technology and continue to amaze millions of users who regain connection and quality of life with advanced amplification and amazing features. Unfortunately, the majority of people in the US who could benefit from their use aren’t wearing them. The NIDCD reports that only 16% to 30% of adults who need hearing aids are actually using them. And what’s more, people with hearing loss may wait 7 to 10 years before seeking help!
If you suspect you have a hearing loss, it’s time to act now! Contact us today to set up a hearing exam. The first step is that easy!