A Guide to Understanding Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is a very chronic condition, with about one in eight people in the US that are aged 12 or over experiencing some form of hearing loss in one or both ears. However, as common as it is, you might not have much of an understanding of how it works. Here, we’re going to look at what you need to know about hearing loss and how an audiologist can help.

The types of hearing loss

Not all hearing loss is the same. There are different types, for one. Here are some of those different types:

• Conductive loss: Is when something stops sounds from getting through the outer or middle ear.
• Sensorineural loss: Is when there are issues with how the inner ear or hearing nerves transmit sound.
• Mixed hearing loss: Is a combination of the two types mentioned above.

Causes of hearing loss

Most people consider aging to be the cause of hearing loss and, while it is one of the most common risk factors, it is not the only way that hearing loss can manifest. Here are some of the different causes of hearing loss:

• Age-related degeneration of inner-ear cells
• Damage to the inner ear as a result of trauma can damage hair and nerve cells in the ear.
• Exposure to loud noise can cause hair cells to degenerate over time.
• A gradual buildup of earwax can block the canal, eventually resulting in hearing loss that can usually be reversed by earwax removal.
• Excessively loud noise, changes in pressure, and damage to the eardrum can cause a ruptured eardrum, which may affect your hearing.

In most cases, hearing loss is caused by age, exposure to loud noise and earwax blockage, but it is important to talk to an audiologist to help narrow down the cause of hearing loss.

Preventing hearing loss

Hearing loss is not reversible in most cases unless it is caused by a temporary blockage. For that reason, audiologists will recommend that you protect your hearing health. This can include protecting your ears with devices like plastic earplugs or earmuffs that are designed to limit your exposure in loud environments, as well as having your hearing checked on a semi-regular basis to quickly act on any changes found in your hearing health.

How can an audiologist help?

If you believe that you or someone you love is experiencing untreated hearing loss, then an audiologist should be your first port of call. An audiologist can perform a hearing test, giving you a definitive answer on whether you have hearing loss and, from there, can help you find the best method of treating it, such as by outfitting you with the best hearing aids suited to your needs.