|
Table of contents
* Types of hearing loss
* What to do
* Coping with hearing problems
Hearing loss is a disability that frequently goes unnoticed. It is
the most common sensory impairment in adults over the age of 65,
affecting more than 30% of Canadians in this age group. Hearing
loss is serious: not only does it affect the physical sense of
hearing, it affects overall well-being. Because of the
communication difficulties it creates, hearing loss can lead to
withdrawal from family, friends and social situations.
Types of hearing loss
One in 10 Canadians has a hearing loss. More than 50% of Canadians
over the age of 65 have an inner ear hearing loss. Inner ear
hearing loss is usually not reversible. Some of its causes, such
as noise damage (see Causes of hearing loss for more causes), are
preventable by wearing hearing protection or avoiding very loud
environments (such as rock concerts).
Warning signs of hearing loss
Signs of hearing loss in adults may include: straining to hear
* speaking louder than necessary in a conversation;
* constantly asking for words to be repeated;
* straining to hear;
* misunderstanding conversations;
* favouring one ear;
* thinking that people always mumble;
* turning the television or radio up louder than usual;
* having difficulty hearing on the telephone;
* withdrawing from social contact;
* ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus);
* appearing dull and disinterested; and
* being slow to respond.
Adapted from the CASLPA website.
One common inner ear condition, called presbycusis, reduces
perception of high-pitched sounds, such as birds singing, bells
ringing and certain consonant sounds in speech (s, sh, f, th).
Without high-pitched sounds, speech seems muffled and unclear.
Those with presbycusis often "hear" but do not
understand what is being said.
Conductive hearing loss blocks sound from getting through to the
inner ear. Sound is quieter but clear if turned loud enough. The
person's own voice seems louder to them, so they will often speak
more softly. Causes may include packed earwax, infection or fluid
in the middle ear, or abnormal bone growth on the tiny middle ear
bones. Some of these causes can be treated by medication or
surgery.
Hearing is important for your personal safety and overall health.
Educate yourself about the early signs of hearing loss and consult
your doctor immediately if you notice a change in your hearing
capacity.
Central deafness is damage to the hearing centres in the brain
caused by stroke, head injury or lengthy high fever. A person with
central deafness can often hear normally but has difficulty
processing what is heard.
Head noises (tinnitus) is a common hearing-related problem
characterized by the sensation of sound when there is no external
noise. Tinnitus sounds vary widely from person to person,
including descriptions such as ringing, buzzing, chirping,
whistling, hissing or pulsing. This may be accompanied by tension
in the head and neck, fatigue, irritability, poor concentration,
feelings of panic and depression. For some, the tinnitus is
constant and has a significant impact on their lives, and for a
few, the impact of tinnitus and its side effects can be disabling.
However, for most people head noises come and go without causing
severe inconvenience.
Tinnitus may occur with a hearing loss, but can also occur in
someone with normal hearing. When it is present with normal
hearing, it may be a warning sign that the inner ear is beginning
to be damaged. Potential causes are numerous, for example,
exposure to excessive noise, age-related changes of the inner ear,
certain medications (e.g., high doses of aspirin), high blood
pressure, head trauma, nerve tumour, and increased fluid in the
inner ear. Therefore, it is important to consult a physician to
determine the cause.
Causes of hearing loss
Common causes of hearing loss include:
* the aging process;
* noise exposure;
* heredity;
* middle ear dysfunction;
* certain medications;
* neurological diseases or stroke;
* head injury;
* inner ear infection; or,
* in rare cases, tumours.
What to do
senior manIf you think that you have a hearing loss or have
tinnitus, ask your family doctor to refer you to an audiologist
for a hearing test. A thorough hearing evaluation by an
audiologist is important to determine the type and degree of
hearing loss, and what treatment or hearing aid options may be
available. You may also require a referral to an Ear, Nose and
Throat (ENT) doctor if a medically treatable cause of the hearing
loss is suspected.
Get a hearing test every two years.
Coping with hearing problems
Don't lose out on communication and contact because you can't hear
well. Thousands of Canadians have improved their lifestyle by
using assistive devices such as hearing aids to improve the volume
of sound in the particular pitches that they miss hearing. Today's
hearing aids are much improved and provide clear, comfortable
sound. Proper hearing keeps communication flowing. Most people
with hearing loss can benefit from a binaural system -- a hearing
aid in each ear. It provides better directionality, better
clarity, and better ability to separate sounds in noise.
If you have a hearing aid and are not happy with it, don't
hesitate to consult again.
Management of tinnitus (head noises) may include using a hearing
aid or tinnitus masking device, changes in diet, medication,
stress management techniques, or tinnitus retraining therapy.
Many other devices can help compensate for hearing loss. You can
make your life easier by getting a loud ringer or light on the
telephone so you don't miss any calls, activating the captioning
feature on your television (available on all newer televisions)
and installing a light that flashes when your doorbell rings. For
more information on assistive devices, consult Go for it! A guide
to choosing and using assistive devices.
Many communities have support groups or offer courses to help you
and your family and friends communicate better. Online help is
also available.
Our thanks to the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, the
Canadian Hearing Society and the Canadian Association of
Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists for their help in
the preparation of this info-sheet.
|
We suggest you bookmark this site and come back often
