Understanding Hearing Loss and How to Improve Your Hearing

Do any of these situations sound familiar?

• Do you have difficulty hearing while talking to another person?
• Do you often ask others to repeat a sentence?
• Have you ever turned the TV or radio volume up to a level where it started to disturb other household members, and they asked you to turn it down?
• Have you experienced episodes of ear buzzing or whistling in your ears?

If you have ever experienced one or more of these symptoms, you may have hearing loss. Read further to learn more about hearing loss and how you can improve your hearing so you don’t miss out on life.

You Are Not Alone

Hearing loss affects about 60.7 million Americans aged 12 and older. About 15.5% (44.1 million) of American adults aged 20 and older have some level of hearing loss. Of people aged 65 and older, 31.1% experience hearing loss, while 40.3% of adults aged 75 and older experience hearing loss.

It is the most common chronic health problem affecting the elderly, after hypertension and arthritis—and it’s an increasing problem as people live longer. After 60 years old, hearing typically deteriorates at about 1 dB per year. Men tend to experience more hearing loss compared to women and begin to lose their hearing earlier.

Hearing Loss in the USA

Source: CDC

There’s no need to feel discouraged by hearing loss—it's entirely possible to maintain a full and comfortable life. In the following sections, we’ll guide you through the steps to make that happen.

Step 1: How to Check If You Have Experienced Hearing Loss with a Hearing Test

If you suspect you may have hearing loss, it is best to see a hearing healthcare professional. A qualified professional will perform tests for a thorough, accurate, and confident diagnosis.

Here Are Our Recommendations for Testing:

If you have already been diagnosed with hearing loss or you use a hearing aid, you can consult a hearing care professional. This professional focuses on medical tests related to hearing loss and hearing aids. They specialize in audiometry exams, analyzing audiograms, hearing aid adjustments, and hearing and understanding speech tests.

A hearing care professional plays a vital role in guiding patients through their hearing journey, from initial assessments to personalized treatment plans. They provide expert advice on selecting the right hearing aids, offer ongoing support for adjustments, and ensure the devices are optimized for the patient’s unique needs and lifestyle.

This comprehensive care helps patients regain confidence and improve their quality of life.

The best way to book a visit with a hearing care professional is by reaching out to your local health clinic or asking your family doctor for guidance. You can also use Google Maps to find nearby specialists and read reviews to help you choose the right professional for your needs.

Step 2: Interpreting Your Results: Learn About the Types and Levels of Hearing Loss

The most important test that will confirm or rule out your hearing loss is an audiometry exam. This test measures your hearing thresholds across frequencies and loudness levels. The result of the audiometry is known as an audiogram, which determines the type, degree, and configuration of hearing loss. Audiometry is also a crucial test for proper fitting and adjustment of the hearing aid.

Types of Hearing Loss

• Conductive Hearing Loss: Often treatable and can be temporary or permanent depending on the underlying cause. It occurs when there is a problem in the outer or middle ear that prevents sound from being conducted to the inner ear. Earwax build-up, ear infections, fluid in the middle ear, or abnormalities in the ear structure may cause it.
• Sensorineural Hearing Loss: The most common type, caused by damage or dysfunction in the inner ear or the auditory nerve pathways. It can be present at birth or acquired due to aging, noise exposure, certain medications, genetic factors, or medical conditions. Sensorineural hearing loss is typically permanent, and the degree of hearing loss can range from mild to profound.
• Mixed Hearing Loss: Refers to a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. It occurs when there is damage or dysfunction in both the outer/middle ear and the inner ear or auditory nerve pathways.
• Central Hearing Loss: Occurs when there is a problem with the central auditory processing centers in the brain. It can affect the ability to interpret or understand sounds, even if the peripheral hearing (outer, middle, and inner ear) is intact. Causes may include conditions such as brain injuries, tumors, or neurological disorders. People with this condition, in most cases, cannot benefit from using a hearing aid.

Important Note!

People who have sensorineural hearing loss or mixed hearing loss benefit most from using hearing aids.

Levels of Hearing Loss

After diagnosing the cause of hearing loss, the next step is to determine its level. Understanding the level of your hearing loss is crucial to explore available hearing aids for you.

• Healthy Hearing (hearing loss less than 25 dB):
  • Healthy hearing is categorized as a hearing loss less than 25 dB. However, there still may be situations in which you would struggle with hearing, as everyone's hearing is personal and unique to them.
• Mild Hearing Loss (26–40 dB):
  • Quiet and soft conversations or situations with just a hint of noise may be tiring.
• Moderate Hearing Loss (41–60 dB):
  • It helps if you raise the volume of the radio and television, and ordinary conversations with some background noise may be challenging to comprehend.
• Severe Hearing Loss (61–80 dB):
  • You struggle with conversations, even in a quiet environment. You ask others to speak louder or frequently repeat their statements.
• Profound Hearing Loss (over 80 dB):
  • You cannot hear speech or sounds of devices such as doorbells, ringing phones, or running washing machines.

Step 3: What to Do When You Have Diagnosed Hearing Loss—Visit a Hearing Care Professional!

Once you have been diagnosed with hearing loss, the next step is to identify a hearing aid that can help ensure you never miss life’s most important moments. Properly fitted hearing aids can have a profound impact on your life. They can improve your life in these areas:

• Improved Hearing: You can again enjoy easily understanding conversations, listening to music, or watching TV without asking for repetition or turning up the volume to a level that may annoy others around you.
• Being Closer to Other People: Hearing loss can lead to social isolation, as you may find it challenging to follow conversations or participate in group activities. Hearing aids can help you reconnect with others and feel more involved in your community.
• Improved Safety: Hearing aids can help you hear warning sounds or cars on the streets. This awareness can help keep you safe and reduce your risk of accidents.
• Well-being: Using hearing aids can help you feel calmer and reduce your stress and anxiety, leading to overall happiness.

A properly fitted hearing aid is a device that will allow you to enjoy life with your family and friends with much easier communication.

When you have properly diagnosed hearing loss, you will need to decide which hearing aid to choose. The best option to do that is to visit a hearing care professional who will help tailor hearing aid options to your needs.

Many options are based on your needs, including lifestyle, level of hearing loss, and preferred look of your hearing aid.

How to Choose the Best Hearing Aid for Your Needs

Choosing a hearing aid for your needs can be complex. These five steps simplify the process:

1. Complete a Professional Hearing Test: Visit a hearing care professional to measure your level of hearing loss.
2. Educate Yourself: Read as much as possible about hearing aids to ensure your choices align with your needs. We recommend these articles: [Link to the second article].
3. Consult Your Hearing Care Professional: Work with your professional to choose a hearing aid that suits you.
4. Enjoy Your Life with Better Hearing: Embrace your new hearing aid and the improved quality of life it brings.

With proper research and a quality hearing aid, you can lead a full and happy life where you never miss out on life’s most important moments and conversations.