Hearing loss is one of the most common health conditions people experience today. Impacting over 48 million people, nearly 1 in 6 people have some degree of impaired hearing. There are 3 types of hearing loss: sensorineural, conductive, and mixed. Sensorineural hearing loss is by far the most common, impacting 90% of people who live with hearing loss. This form of hearing loss occurs in the inner ear whereas conducive occurs in the middle ear (mixed is a combination of both). Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent which means that hearing loss is chronic and life-long. There are effective ways hearing loss is treated that support hearing health and overall wellness.
Causes
A range of factors can cause sensorineural hearing loss. Most often, these factors damage the hair cells in the inner ear. These sensory cells are a critical component of the auditory system – the sensory system for hearing. There are thousands of hair cells in the inner ear that help process incoming sound waves and send this information to the brain. These cells can be impacted by:
- Aging: aging is the strongest indicator of hearing loss. The risk of developing hearing loss increases with age. Age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis, can be caused by a few factors. This includes the cumulative toll of loud noise on the auditory system, changes to the ears that may happen over time, as well as existing medical conditions that also impact older adults disproportionately which are correlated with hearing loss.
- Loud noise: time or consistent exposure to loud noise can damage the hair cells in the inner ear. Loud noise can cause these cells to become desensitized, reducing their capacity to process sound waves. This results in the brain receiving less auditory information, producing hearing loss.
- Existing conditions: research shows that a number of medical conditions can increase the risk of hearing loss. This includes conditions like cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and osteoporosis. These medical conditions can impact blood flow as well as bone health which can then impact the ears and auditory system. Restricted blood flow or weakened bone health (osteoporosis) can impact how soundwaves are absorbed and processed, contributing to hearing loss.
- Head injuries: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 3 million head injuries occur annually. Trauma to the head can physically damage the ears or impact the brain’s ability to process auditory information.
Additional causes of hearing loss include inner ear disorders, chronic ear infections, autoimmune conditions, and more.
Symptoms
Hearing loss reduces a person’s ability to hear speech and sound. This produces several symptoms that strain communication. Common symptoms include:
- Sounds are slurred, muffled, or distorted.
- Tinnitus: a ringing or buzzing-like noise in one or both ears.
- Turning up the volume on the TV, phone, or other electronic devices.
- Lip reading to help identify individual words.
- Frequently asking others to repeat themselves, speak louder, or slower.
- Moving to a quieter space to hear.
- Being able to hear more clearly out of one ear compared to the other.
- Missing words or entire parts of conversations. Struggling to keep up with what others are saying.
- Oftentimes saying “huh” or “what” in response to others.
- Feeling fatigued or drained after social interactions.
These symptoms can be anywhere from mild to severe. Hearing loss symptoms make it challenging to fully participate in conversations and communication can start to feel laborious. Untreated hearing loss can start impacting relationships, worsening symptoms, and increasing health risks – cognitive decline, accidental injuries, and depressive symptoms.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Fortunately, there is a wealth of hearing health services and solutions that can transform as well as protect your hearing health. The first step is to have your hearing evaluated by a hearing healthcare specialist. Hearing tests involve a painless and non-invasive process that measures hearing capacities in both ears. Hearing evaluations diagnose hearing loss as well as identify the degree of impairment you could be experiencing. Once your hearing needs are established, your hearing healthcare provider can tailor treatment to meet your hearing needs.
The most common treatment for hearing loss is hearing aids. These savvy pieces of technology are designed to absorb and amplify speech as well as sound. This provides the ears and brain with ample support, making it easier to hear and communicate. Similar to most electronic devices we use today, hearing aids have experienced significant innovation There is a wide range of options, features, and technologies that allow these wearable devices to easily integrate into daily life.