hearing loss

Hearing Loss Overview

Hearing loss is a condition where the person’s hearing ability is poor enough to stop them leading the life they want to lead. It afflicts about 15% of adults in the US. This number rises the older you get, with 25% of people from the ages of 65-75 with hearing loss.

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Sensorineural Hearing Loss

The most common kind of hearing loss among adults is sensorineural. This is caused by a slow degrading of the delicate hair cells within the inner ear. These cells are instrumental in picking up sounds to be processed by the brain, so when they are damaged, received sound is scrambled. This makes it very difficult to hear conversations, especially in public places like restaurants and cafes. It is usually caused by repeated exposure to loud sounds over a long period of time or due to the natural process of aging. Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent and, because it's not possible to restore the lost hearing, and the most widely used and effective treatment is hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Conductive Hearing Loss

The less prevalent type of hearing loss is called conductive hearing loss. Occurring most commonly in young children, this kind occurs when the inner ear is blocked, which stops sound from entering the inner ear. Common causes of conductive hearing loss include hearing infections or a build-up of fluid in the ear. Treatment for conductive hearing loss usually requires medical intervention to address the underlying cause of the hearing loss.

Mixed Hearing Loss

A combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss is referred to as mixed hearing loss. A common problem that appears alongside hearing loss is tinnitus. This is the feeling of hearing sound in the ears even though no sound is there. Concert goers might have experienced a ringing in the ears after a particularly loud show. This is a temporary type of tinnitus. Others may hear a whooshing, hissing or whizzing sound. It can range in volume and pitch though out the day. some suffers find they notice their tinnitus the most at night or in quiet places. There is no cure for tinnitus, but various solutions exist for managing the annoyance that comes with tinnitus.

Why treat hearing loss?

Hearing loss is the third most common chronic health condition in the USA, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Unfortunately, not enough people are taking it seriously. People usually wait about seven years before they decide to act on their hearing loss. This explains why only a small percentage of those who need hearing aids are actually using them. Many people may be delaying their treatment because they are embarrassed to act, but the problems for inaction are even greater.

Those who experience hearing loss and fail to treat it open themselves up to reduced earnings, depression, high blood pressure and a reduction in the quality of their relationships with loved ones. Conversely, studies have shown that taking action on hearing loss has several benefits:

Improved relationships with loved ones

People who have hearing loss might have noticed the strain it puts on their relationships with family members and partners. This is understandable, given that all social relationships are built on clear and regular communication. By treating their hearing, individuals with hearing loss are able to rekindle these relationships. This decreases social isolation and depression, and improves one’s quality of life.

Tinnitus Treatment Management

Many hearing aids nowadays come complete with a tinnitus management system. This usually consists of a library of sounds set to varying frequencies to mask the sound of your own tinnitus. With tinnitus treatment therapy, sufferers of tinnitus have reported being able to manage their tinnitus in a much more effective way. Schedule your tinnitus treatment with us in Brooklyn, NY.

Reduced Rate of Cognitive Decline

No matter what we do, our brains will not stay in perfect shape throughout the course of our lives, but there are certain things you can do to slow that decline. One of those things is to treat your hearing loss. There are many studies that have pointed to a reduction in the risk of developing dementia. The most recent research by British academics in Manchester, UK found that hearing aids slowed the rate of cognitive decline participants by an average of 75%.

Higher Earnings

Recent research has found that if you don’t treat your hearing loss, you could be reducing your earnings up to $30,000 annually. But if you treat your hearing loss, you could mitigate these decreased earnings by up to 90%. The research, conducted by the Better Hearing Institute, found that the reduction in earnings was most acute for those with more severe hearing loss.

For Students with Hearing Loss

This guide helps deaf and hard of hearing students learn about online accommodations colleges offer to comply with the American Disabilities Act, popular listening devices and applications, and scholarships. We also provide a list of the 5 best colleges for students with hearing disabilities as well as additional helpful resources.

You can view our guide here: https://www.intelligent.com/deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-student-online-college-guide/.

Start your journey to better hearing today!

Our audiologists specialize in disorders of the ear and hearing system. We have spent years training to take care of people experiencing ear disease and hearing loss. Click below to contact us to schedule your hearing exam.