* Inherited from parents or acquired from illness.
* Ototoxic (ear damaging) drugs
* Very Loud noise (Noise Induced hearing loss) can cause permanent loss of hearing.
* Otosclerosis (middle ear disease)
* Tumor (Acoustic Neuroma)
* Physical injuries
* Presbycusis (loss of hearing due to aging process)
* Hears almost everything well.
* May need to listen carefully in important situations.
* High-pitch sounds might be challenging.
* Difficulty understanding speech, especially in noisy environments.
* Can hear well in quiet settings with few speakers.
* Trouble with soft-spoken individuals, like women and children.
Sound waves enter the ear through the auditory canal and strike the eardrum (tympanic membrane). The eardrum vibrates in response to these sound waves.
The vibrations from the eardrum are transmitted across the three small bones of the middle ear, known as the ossicles: the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup). The stapes, the last bone in the chain, transfers the vibrations to the oval window.
Adjusting to hearing aids takes some time, but you’ll quickly notice improved hearing. This boost in confidence enhances your quality of life, helps you better locate sounds, and allows you to avoid dangers like traffic. Using hearing aids in both ears improves your ability to separate speech from background noise.
Binaural amplification allows you to keep the hearing aid volume low, which reduces distortion and background noise, enhancing speech clarity and sound quality. It also makes it easier to follow group conversations and eliminates the need to turn your head or ask people to speak into your “good ear,” making social and business interactions more enjoyable.
Hearing aids and assistive listening devices are effective for most people with hearing impairment.
Modern life exposes us to a lot of noise, and it’s something we often don’t think about until it starts to affect us. Our hearing is indeed delicate and can be easily damaged by high sound levels, which is why it’s important to be aware of the potential risks and take preventive measures.
Here are a few key points to keep in mind:
1. Noise Levels and Hearing Damage:
85 dB: Continuous exposure at this level, such as heavy traffic, can cause hearing damage over time.
100 dB: Levels like those from compressed air hammers can cause hearing damage with relatively short exposure.
110-120 dB: Rock concerts and similar loud environments can be extremely damaging, especially if you’re exposed repeatedly or for extended periods.
2. Types of Hearing Loss:
Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS): This is a short-term reduction in hearing sensitivity after exposure to loud noise. The hearing usually recovers, but repeated TTS can lead to more permanent damage.
Many people find it hard to accept hearing loss because it often happens gradually. They might only realize it when others point it out. If you suspect someone has hearing loss, you might notice:
* Turning up the TV volume unusually high.
* Frequently asking for repetition or saying “What?”
* Difficulty hearing in noisy places.
* Withdrawing from social activities.
* Misunderstanding conversations.
* Straining to hear or not responding to sounds.
* Cupping their ear or turning their head to hear better.
Decibel Measurement:
* Decibels (dB) are a logarithmic unit used to measure the intensity of sound. This means that each increase of 10 dB represents a tenfold increase in the power of the sound. So, a 20 dB sound is 10 times more powerful than a 10 dB sound, and a 30 dB sound is 100 times more powerful than a 10 dB sound.
* The scale starts at 0 dB, which represents the threshold of hearing (the quietest sound that can be detected by the human ear). Each 10 dB increase represents a tenfold increase in sound intensity.
Vaping and hearing loss
Although definitive research is still ongoing, vaping poses risks similar to smoking, and possibly even greater risks depending on the vape juice ingredients.
Here’s what is known:
* Turning up the TV volume unusually high.
* Frequently asking for repetition or saying “What?”
* Difficulty hearing in noisy places.
* Withdrawing from social activities.
* Misunderstanding conversations.
* Straining to hear or not responding to sounds.
* Cupping their ear or turning their head to hear better.