Hearing loss is something which occurs gradually as you age and it is common for all sorts of people to go through it. But there is also a growing number of younger people who are suffering from this condition – mainly due to exposure to loud noises. Sometimes, the answer can be as simple as a buildup of excessive earwax, but other times, it can be something more serious and permanent. While a huge proportion of hearing loss cannot be reversed, more and more treatments are becoming available all the time. So, if you think that you, someone in your life or your kids may be suffering from hearing loss, here is a guide which will hopefully provide you with some information which will come in handy.
Identifying the Symptoms
First of all, it helps to know what the common symptoms of hearing loss are. There may be a muffling of speech and other sounds. You may have difficulty understanding words – particularly when there is a great deal of background noise. Consonants tend to be hard to pick out which can lead to misunderstandings. Perhaps you are finding that you are having to ask people to repeat themselves all the time or you find yourself needing to turn up the volume of your TV or radio. All of this may grow and contribute to a complete avoidance of social settings for fear that you will make a fool of yourself.
Deciding When to See a Doctor
If you or your children have a sudden loss of hearing, you should seek immediate medical attention. Also, if you find that your hearing is interfering with your daily life, this is the time that you need to get some professional guidance on Bluetooth hearing aids and similar assistance. But you should also make a habit of having your hearing tested on a regular basis to make sure that everything is okay – and if it is not, you can do something about it at the earliest possible opportunity.
How Can Hearing Loss Occur?
There are a number of different reasons why hearing loss can occur. First of all, damage to the inner ear and wear and tear of the hairs or nerve cells in the cochlea. This can be caused by exposure to loud noises or just general aging. When this occurs, higher pitched tones are likely to become muffled first. A gradual buildup of earwax can also block the ear canal, preventing the conduction of sound waves. Alternatively, hearing loss may be the result of an ear infection. In more serious cases, a ruptured eardrum can seriously affect your ability to hear.
What Are the Common Risk Factors?
There are plenty of risk factors involved in hearing loss – some which you can do something about and some which you can’t. Obviously, you can’t do a great deal about getting older, but there are plenty of other lifestyle factors which you can influence. For example, there are lots of occupations which can contribute to hearing loss such as farming, construction or factory work. And there are many recreational activities as well including motorcycling and simply listening to loud music.
