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Hearing Loss

• How common is hearing loss?
• What causes it?
• What you should know about hearing loss?
• Why you may be unaware of the problem?

How Common Is Hearing Loss?

Approximately 28 million Americans have a hearing impairment. Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic health conditions in the United States, affecting people of all ages, in all segments of the population, and across all socioeconomic levels. Hearing loss affects approximately 17 in 1,000 children under age 18. The incidence of hearing loss increases with age; approximately 314 in 1,000 people over age 65 have hearing loss. Impairment of hearing can vary from a mild loss of sensitivity to a total loss of hearing.

Most often a hearing loss develops gradually and painlessly. Hearing can be damaged by:
• Exposure to loud or constant noise
• Inherited medical conditions
• Illness
• The natural aging process
• Traumatic injury
• Ototoxic medications
• Tumors

What Causes It?

There are different types of hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves are prevented from passing to the inner ear. This can be caused by a variety of problems including buildup of earwax (cerumen), infection, fluid in the middle ear (ear infection or otitis media), or a punctured eardrum. Sensorineural (nerve) hearing loss develops when the auditory nerve or hair cells in the inner ear are damaged by aging, noise, illness, injury, infection, head trauma, toxic medications, or an inherited condition. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. A conductive hearing loss can often be corrected with medical or surgical treatment, while sensorineural hearing loss usually cannot. Hearing aids are most often the choice for sensorineural hearing loss.

People with hearing loss may experience some or all of the following problems:
• Difficulty hearing conversations, especially when there is background noise.
• Hissing, roaring, or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
• Difficulty hearing the television or radio at a normal volume.
• Fatigue and irritation caused by the effort to hear.
• Dizziness or problems with balance.

What You Should Know About Hearing Loss

Hearing loss usually develops slowly, often worsens with age and is generally permanent. Most hearing difficulties can be helped by individually selected, prescribed and fitted hearing aids.

It is important to first determine whether or not you might have a hearing impairment. Information provided here, especially in the Quick Test, should be helpful in addressing this concern.

Why You May Be Unaware of the Problem

It is typical for individuals with a mild to moderate hearing loss to be unaware of their problem, even though family and friends are quite aware of it.

Hearing loss can be invisible and is almost always painless. There are no physical warning signs, except in some cases there may be ringing in the ear(s). But, the real reason hearing loss can "sneak" up on you is that the change is so gradual. Most hearing losses develop over a period of 25 to 30 years. By age 50 or 60, there can be enough deterioration to interfere with conversation.

Hearing loss can interfere with quality of life. It can restrict your ability to interact with others, prevent you from hearing important information, cause misunderstandings, heighten stress and anxiety, cause unnecessary fatigue and filter out the subtle sounds of nature. Don't let poor hearing restrict you from enjoying life.

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