Hearing Loss
Hearing loss affects 38 million Americans. And almost two-thirds of those affected by hearing loss are over the age of 55.
Being aware of hearing loss as you grow older is important, as impaired hearing can have a negative impact on your quality of life. It may restrict your ability to interact with other people, and make you more dependent upon others. Also, hearing loss can pose a safety risk by making it difficult to identify hazards in your environment.
As you read this page, you'll learn more about hearing loss and new research in this field. You'll also find a quiz to help you determine if you might be suffering from impaired hearing.
What You Should Know About Hearing Loss
The onset of hearing loss may be very gradual. Sometimes it occurs over a 25- to 30-year period. But it may also be rapid, if your hobbies involve repeated exposure to loud noises.
Many people with hearing loss are not aware of it until someone else brings it to their attention. The quiz in this section can help you determine if you might have a hearing problem that requires medical treatment.
There are many possible causes of hearing loss, including:
- Trauma
- Repeated exposure to loud noises
- Side effects of medications
- Inherited abnormalities
- Certain viral or bacterial infections
Age-related hearing loss
- An inherited vulnerability
- Natural aging processes that affect hearing
- The cumulative effect of a lifetime's exposure to noise
Properly selected and fitted hearing aids can help most people suffering from hearing loss. Many different types of hearing aids exist. They vary by size, where they are placed in the ear, and how they process sounds.
Because modern hearing aids are so complex, seeing a specialist to find one that's right for you is important.
New Research in Age-Related Hearing Loss
A "cure" for age-related hearing loss would affect millions of people. By better understanding how the brain hears and what goes wrong when hearing is impaired, scientists hope to develop effective therapies that may delay, prevent, or even reverse hearing loss.
Already, several genes have been identified that play essential roles in the production and function of sensory hair cells in our ears. These cells are essential to the hearing process. As we age, some of the hair cells in become damaged or lost, causing impaired hearing.
Scientists are now investigating ways to use the genes they've identified to stimulate regrowth of hair cells damaged by age-related processes. Many experts believe this may be the key to reversing hearing loss.
Animal studies are currently being conducted to determine how feasible this approach is, and whether it may hold promise for people.
Having Trouble Hearing?
Take this simple self-test to see if you might have impaired hearing. Consult a doctor if your answers indicate a possible problem.
- Do you often need to turn the volume up on the television?
- Do you frequently have to ask others to repeat themselves?
- Do you have difficulty understanding people when you are in groups or noisy situations?
- Do you have to sit up front in meetings or church in order to understand?
- Do you have difficulty understanding women or young children?
- Do you have trouble knowing where sounds are coming from?
- Are you unable to understand when someone talks to you from another room?
- Have others told you that you don't seem to hear them?
- Do you avoid family meetings or social situations because you "can't understand"?
- Do you have ringing or other noises (tinnitus) in your ears?
Scoring:
If you answered "yes" to fewer than three of the questions, you
may have no significant hearing loss.
If you answered yes to three to five of the questions, you may have a slight hearing problem.*
If you answered yes to five to seven of the questions, you may have a moderate hearing problem.*
If you answered yes to more than seven of the questions, you may have a significant hearing problem.*
*In order to determine the exact degree of hearing loss present, you should have your hearing evaluated by a licensed hearing professional.
