Having the ability to hear well plays a big role in how we engage with the world around us. Hearing offers us comfort and protection and also gives us the ability to learn, communicate, and experience what is going on. Any type of damage to your inner ear can impair your hearing. This often happens so slowly and subtly that you might not even be able to notice a change.
Consider this: according to the Hearing Loss Association of America, about 20 percent of adults in the United States (48 million), report some degree of hearing loss. At age 65, one out of three people has hearing loss. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), roughly 15% of Americans (26 million) betweens the ages of 20 and 69 have high frequency hearing loss.
Hearing loss is more common than people realize, as it takes third place on the list of most common physical conditions followed by arthritis and heart disease.
So the question is, are you experiencing hearing loss and should you see an audiologist?
Many times people don’t even realize they are experiencing hearing loss. Think about the questions below.
- Do you often feel like people are mumbling?
- Have others complained about how loud you turn up the TV or radio?
- Do you have difficulty talking on the phone?
- Do you frequently have to ask others to repeat themselves?
- Do you have trouble understanding a conversation if there is background noise?
- Have you found yourself avoiding social activities that would require you to hear well?
- Do you have ringing in your ears?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, then you should consider having a complete hearing evaluation performed by a licensed audiologist. This may seem frightening, embarrassing, and nerve-wracking if you aren’t sure what an audiologist does and how they can help you. But we are here to help give you an idea of what to expect.
When you visit a hearing doctor, there are four main areas that will be discussed and checked.
1. Case History
First and foremost, the audiologist will take a case history. He will ask you questions about your hearing, noise exposure, communication issues, and medical issues. Having a detailed case history helps the audiologist get a better idea of the issue as a whole and helps him understand your concerns.
2. Otoscopy
An otoscopy simply involves looking down your ear canal with an “otoscope.” You have probably had this done before during a regular doctor visit. Basically, the hearing doctor is checking for things like wax, blockages, and any easily recognizable problems with your ear canal or eardrum.
3. Tympanometry
Tympanometry is a test of the middle ear. It measures how your ear reacts to sound and different pressures. A small device will be placed into your ear that changes the pressure in your ear and makes the eardrum move back and forth. You may also hear a series of loud beeps. You may feel slight discomfort but the test should result in no harm.
4. Audiometry
An audiometry exam tests your ability to hear sounds. Sounds vary based on their loudness (intensity) and the speed of sound wave vibrations (tone). You will be placed in a soundproof booth or room and instructed to indicate (either by pushing a button, raising your hand, or the like) when you hear a sound or soft tone in your ears.
Small insert earphones will be placed in your ears and the audiologist will control the tone and loudness to determine the softest sound you can hear. Each ear is tested separately. This is called testing via air conduction.
The audiologist will also place a bone oscillator behind the ear to evaluate hearing levels and determine inner ear problems due to aging or noise exposure.
Important tests of speech and word recognition are measured to determine your speech understanding in both quiet and real world background noise. This gives important information about the potential to improve your speech understanding ability.
5. Results Explanation and Recommendations
After the audiologist performs these tests, they will explain the results. Possible causes will be discussed as well as the possibility for medical treatment or referral for treatment. 20% of hearing loss is medically treatable so it’s important to identify these issues.
80% of hearing loss is permanent and can be helped with hearing aids or listening devices as a possible solution.
Many people have misconceptions about hearing loss and treatment. Most of those ideas are based on what we’ve seen our parents or grandparents go through with hearing loss. Many of those observations are outdated and no longer true.
- Some believe that their type of hearing loss is untreatable (almost completely untrue).
- Many believe hearing aids are a sign of old age. (more hearing aid users are under age 65)
- Others believe all hearing aids are extremely noticeable and embarrassing. (most people never notice current-day hearing aids)
It may be difficult to accept hearing changes and even more difficult to take action, but as audiologists we have a unique way to help you. We can can determine the nature of your hearing loss and recommend the most appropriate action for you. You are welcome to come see us soon to gain some insight about your specific hearing situation.
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