Hearing loss is a condition that affects millions of people all over the world. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including age, illness, or exposure to loud noises. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss all aspects of hearing impairment: what it is, how it affects people’s lives, and the various treatments available. This information will help you better understand this common condition and provide you with the resources you need to seek treatment if you or someone you love suffers from a hearing problem.
What is hearing loss?
Hearing loss refers to a hearing ability that is outside of the normal range. It can be a mild, moderate, or severe degree of hearing difficulty, and may stem from different parts of the auditory system. A mild hearing loss will require more listening effort to understanding conversation, particularly in the presence of background noise. Moderate hearing loss causes strain to understand conversation even spoken at a normal volume. While a severe hearing loss impedes any ability to hear conversation unless it is at an elevated volume. As an example, the sound of a vacuum cleaner may not audible for someone with severe hearing impairment.
Types of hearing loss
There are three main types of hearing impairment: conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss. These different types of hearing loss depend on the part of the ear that is affected. The most common type of hearing loss, especially among older adults, is sensorineural hearing loss. This type of permanent hearing loss occurs in the inner ear, or cochlea.
Conductive hearing loss happens when sound is prevented from effectively reaching the inner ear. Causes of conductive hearing impairment include ear infection (otitis media), middle ear disease, tympanic membrane perforation, or otosclerosis. The third type is a combination of inner ear and conductive hearing impairment, meaning that sound is impeded from reaching the inner ear. However, once the sound reaches the inner ear, it can still be distorted due to inner ear damage.
Sudden or gradual
Hearing impairment can happen gradually over a period of years, or it can come on suddenly. In the case of a sudden hearing change, it can come on abruptly and without warning. This type of hearing impairment requires immediate treatment. For a sudden change in hearing, see an ENT. The possibility for hearing restoration lies within a very time sensitive window and needs immediate action for best outcomes.
Common causes of hearing impairment include loud sounds (e.g. loud music) and age-related hearing loss. A medical condition may also cause hearing impairment, for example an acoustic neuroma (a benign growth on the auditory nerve). Use of hearing aids will help for some people. However, those with profound hearing loss will need a high power hearing device or surgical intervention. Some with profound impairment prefer to communicate with sign language.
What does it mean to have hearing loss?
Hearing impairment affects more than just the ear. It can have a profound impact on a person’s quality of life, in ways that people don’t always realize. When we having normal hearing, it is easy to take for granted all the ways that it helps us and keeps connection during the day. For example, understanding conversation, detecting the direction that a sound is coming from, or hearing an oncoming car. Many people with hearing difficulty become more reliant on lip reading to understand and communicate.
Isolation
Additionally, when we have hearing impairment, it can be difficult to follow conversation, and we may withdraw from social situations. In addition, hearing impairment has been linked with depression, anxiety, and isolation. Katherine Bouton from the New York Times wrote a really poignant article on what it’s like to have a hearing problem.
Memory
When you have hearing impairment, it takes more listening effort to decipher a distorted auditory signal. This means that fewer cognitive resources are available to process and remember what was said. Research is finding that people with hearing difficulty are more likely to develop dementia. A study published in JAMA Otolaryngology found that, “older adults with hearing loss were significantly more likely to have incident all-cause dementia over a mean of 12 years of follow-up than those without hearing loss.”
Treatment
If you suffer from hearing impairment, hearing aids or cochlear implants may provide benefit and help you hear better. If you have a hearing problem, a hearing test is an important first step. Depending on the degree of hearing difficulty, surgical intervention or electronic devices may be the best option to send sound information to the brain.
Do you have trouble hearing? Or perhaps you have family members who have trouble understanding? Hearing difficulty is a common problem, but there are ways to help. It affects everyone differently. The best way to find out more is to seek out a professional to evaluate and make recommendations for your specific situation.
Living with a hearing difficulty is a unique experience. It’s something that many people have to deal with on a daily basis.
Do you or someone you know have a hearing difficulty? What has been your experience? Share your story in the comments below!
Hearing simulator
Are you having trouble imagining what hearing loss sounds like? Sometimes it can be an eye-opening experience to hear what it sounds like. Hearing loss simulator video:
We hope you’ve enjoyed this post on hearing impairment and that this answers your questions about the topic. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.
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