Early Warning Signs | What You Can Do about Diminished Hearing Capacity
The National Institutes of Health reports that about one in every 10 adults worldwide suffer from some level of hearing impairment. Some of that can be attributed to aging—approximately half of all persons over the age of 75 are hearing-challenged. But studies also show an increase in hearing loss among younger generations, particularly among those who spend a lot of their days wearing ear buds. What are the telltale signs that you may be experiencing hearing loss? What steps should you take if you believe you are losing your hearing?
The Common Symptoms of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is more than simply not hearing the things are going on around you. Often, the early signs of hearing loss involve not being able to distinguish certain sounds when there are many, such as being unable to pick out one person’s voice when in a crowd. Typically, the first vocal sounds that start to diminish are the consonants. Do you need people to repeat themselves on a regular basis? Do you find yourself avoiding social settings because you can’t follow what’s going on? Are you sitting closer to others in an attempt to better hear what they are saying? Does background noise bother you or do you occasionally hear a ringing in your ears?
Who’s Most at Risk for Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss may stem from a range of issues, from damage to your inner ear, such as a ruptured eardrum, to an infection or even a buildup of earwax. Age is most often the primary contributing factor to hearing loss, but hearing loss may also be hereditary, as well as environmentally based. Do you work at a place where loud noises are common? Do you attend loud events, such as concerts or games? Do you like to listen to loud music? Do you work with loud tools or enjoy firearms or shooting?
Hearing loss may also be caused by illness or even by some medications. There’s evidence that some pain relievers, when taken in high doses, may lead to hearing problems. Additionally, meningitis has been known to generate fevers that affect your hearing.
What Can You Do If You Believe You Have Hearing Loss?
If you or someone you love suspects that you have hearing loss, the first thing you should do is seek treatment from your primary care physician, who will likely refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialists. Some types of hearing loss can be reversed, such as problems caused by excess earwax or certain infections in your ear. If you have permanent damage to your inner ear, a hearing aid can make a significant difference. If the damage to your ear is substantial, you may be able to restore some hearing with a cochlear implant.
