Hearing Loss
If you have hearing loss, you might feel like you’re suffering in silence – but you are not alone. In fact, the latest statistics available show that over 10% of people in the United States report difficulty hearing. At this very moment, more than 32 million Americans struggle to hear properly. As the population continues to age and the consequences of untreated hearing loss are made more apparent, that number promises to increase dramatically.
To better understand the impact of diminished hearing on Americans, consider the following hearing loss statistics reported by Sergei Kochkin, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Better Hearing Institute:
- 3 in 10 people over the age of 60 suffer from hearing loss.
- 1 in 6 Baby Boomers (or 14.6%) have a hearing problem.
- 1 in 14 Generation Xers (or 7.4%) already suffer from diminished hearing.
- At least 1.4 million children (age 18 or younger) have hearing problems.
- It is estimated that 3 in 1,000 infants are born with serious to profound hearing loss.
In addition, studies have linked untreated hearing loss to emotional, physical, mental, psychological, and even economic disadvantages. To make matters worse, there are many myths surrounding hearing issues that prevent those afflicted from seeking out treatment.
Hearing Loss at Any Age
One of the most common myths surrounding hearing problems is that hearing loss only affects the elderly. Diminished hearing is not strictly an ailment of old age. Though presbycusis (gradual hearing loss with age) is a common form of hearing loss, it is not the only one.
It can strike at any time and affects people of all ages, even children. In fact, the majority of people with impaired hearing (62%) are younger than age 65. According to the Better Hearing Institute, six million Americans between the ages of 18 and 44 live with hearing loss.
Even a mild or moderate case of hearing loss in children can hinder a child’s ability to learn, develop speech, and build important interpersonal skills that can foster self-esteem and help a child succeed in school and in life. So, if you notice that your child is struggling to hear properly, contact an audiologist right away.
Causes of Hearing Loss
Many factors can adversely affect your hearing health:
- Exposure to noise. Loud sounds can damage the hair cells of the inner ear. Hair cells convert mechanical energy into electrical signals which are transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve. Missing or damaged hair cells result in distortion or deficient auditory input to the brain, causing hearing difficulty.
- Aging. Hair cells deteriorate over time, leading to presbycusis and a gradual loss of hearing with age.
- Family history. There are some influences of genetics on hearing loss. Inner ear mutations can disrupt signaling pathways, leading to a diminished hearing ability.
- Some medications. Some medicines can be ototoxic, or damaging to one’s hearing. Ototoxic medications damage the sensory cells involved in hearing. Consult your doctor if medication use has resulted in a loss of hearing.
- Disease. Some diseases have been implicated in hearing loss. For example, those with diabetes are twice as likely to have hearing loss. Likewise, some viruses can cause sudden hearing loss. The method by which disease can affect hearing loss varies but typically stems from damage to the inner ear via inflammation.
- Head trauma. Loud blasts of noise, sudden changes in pressure, physical trauma, or poking the eardrum with an object can cause the eardrum to burst. This is known as a ruptured eardrum or tympanic membrane perforation.
Types of Hearing Loss
- Conductive: Conductive hearing loss occurs when a problem prevents the conduction of sound waves somewhere in the middle ear, eardrum, or outer ear. It can be caused by something as simple as earwax buildup. This type of hearing loss can usually be fixed with medical intervention.
- Sensorineural: Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when (1) the hair cells in the cochlea become damaged or go missing or (2) the neural pathways that lead from the inner ear to the brain become damaged. This type can be treated with hearing aids, but full recovery is more difficult.
- Mixed: Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Regular hearing tests are crucial for diagnosing this method of hearing loss and require an audiologist for proper treatment.
- Central: Central hearing loss is caused by problems in the central nervous system. For example, strokes and central nerve diseases can induce this rare form of hearing loss. Unfortunately, this type is the most difficult to treat as the problem is not centered around the ear.
Consequences of Untreated Hearing Problems
Many believe that they can get by without a hearing aid or another form of treatment. In many cases, there is also a belief that hearing loss is temporary. While this is true in some cases, it is impossible to know how to tell if hearing loss is permanent or temporary until it is too late. Finally, some people simply don’t want to acknowledge that the problem exists. Unfortunately, for these reasons and others, many people wait years (even decades) to contact an audiologist and find a treatment that works.
Time and time again, hearing loss research has demonstrated the considerable negative effects of untreated hearing loss. The far-reaching implications go well beyond hearing. It can also influence your social, psychological, cognitive, and physical health. In fact, people who have difficulty hearing can experience such distorted and incomplete communication that it seriously impacts their professional and personal lives, at times leading to isolation and withdrawal. Studies have linked hearing loss to all of the following:
- Irritability, negativism, and anger
- Fatigue
- Tension and stress
- Depression
- Avoidance or withdrawal from social situations
- Social rejection and loneliness
- Impaired memory
- Reduced ability to learn new skills
- Poor job performance and reduced earning power
- Diminished psychological and overall health
- Reduced alertness
- Increased risk to personal safety
Furthermore, a growing collection of detailed studies demonstrates that people with hearing problems should address their issues quickly. In other words, when your family tells you to turn down the volume on the TV, or you find yourself constantly asking people to speak louder, recognize your hearing loss symptoms and take action! Schedule a hearing test with an audiologist, determine what sort of hearing loss you suffer from, and find a treatment that works for you.
Tips to Promote Healthy Hearing
While age-related hearing loss is, to a certain extent, generally unavoidable, there are still quite a few things you can do to promote healthy hearing and ease the rate at which your hearing is declining.
Like our cardiovascular system and other essential systems, maintaining healthy hearing will require an active effort. By keeping these simple, yet important, pieces of advice in mind, you can reduce the effect of age-related hearing loss and maintain your audiological health for many years to come:
- Visit an Audiologist: As mentioned, audiologists can test your hearing, help you find out your specific type of hearing, and propose treatment. Everyone should get their hearing tested at least once after the age of 21, and at least once again every ten years.
- Use Ear Plugs: Any sound that is more than 85 decibels loud can potentially cause hearing loss. For reference, 85 decibels is the approximate volume of a lawnmower, traffic, or a noisy restaurant. Earplugs can help to soften the harms of exposure to excessive noise and are a key strategy for hearing loss prevention.
- Avoid Common Hearing Hazards: Limit your exposure to loud noise in general. Some audiologists recommend something known as the “60/60” rule. This means that you should limit your listening to 60 minutes per day at 60 percent of the volume.
- Take Active Measures to Control Your Stress: Several peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated a strong correlation between the presence of stress and tinnitus. Reduced stress can also help decelerate the rate of age-related hearing loss and provide other health benefits.
- Make Healthy Choices: Things that are hazardous for your general health are also generally hazardous for your hearing. Obesity, smoking, hypertension, stress, and many other well-documented medical risks are all positively correlated with the onset of tinnitus and other common hearing issues.
Hearing Loss Treatment Options
Fortunately, there are a variety of treatment options available that can help individuals with hearing impairment lead full, vibrant lives. One of the most common treatments for hearing loss is the use of hearing aids.
These small prescriptive electronic devices amplify sounds, making it easier for the user to hear. While the negative stigma exists about looking old wearing hearing aids, today, devices come in a variety of styles, from those that fit behind the ear to those like Lyrics that are 100% invisible and sit completely inside the ear canal. They can be adjusted to suit an individual’s specific type and degree of hearing loss, and many now feature digital technology that can reduce background noise, connect to smartphones, and even adjust to different listening environments.
In cases where hearing loss is caused by infections, tumors, or other medical conditions, medication or surgery may be necessary. For example, if fluid build-up in the middle ear is the cause, tubes might be inserted to drain the fluid. Likewise, tumors causing hearing impairment would require surgical removal.
At Sound Relief, we have decades of experience helping those suffering from hearing loss. Not only can we help you determine the cause of your hearing loss symptoms, but we can help you find the treatment option that best works for you. Whether that is helping you learn how to choose a hearing aid or knowing where to buy hearing aids, our helpful staff at Sound Relief will be with you every step of the way.
Medically reviewed on 8/26/24
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Kaela earned a bachelor’s degree in speech, language, and hearing sciences from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and a clinical Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Kaela Fasman is dedicated to providing excellent care and improving the quality of life of her patients and their families. She values her opportunity to help people live healthier and happier lives through improved communication and tinnitus relief. Dr. Kaela Fasman enjoys educating friends, family, and patients about tinnitus and hearing loss and works at our Golden location.
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Kaela and her husband moved to beautiful Denver in 2016. She enjoys hiking, doing puzzles, and baking on the weekends.
Learn More:
How You Hear | Online Hearing Quiz | How Hearing Tests Work | Styles of Hearing Aids