About
Hearing
Loss
Signs of Hearing Loss
Symptoms and signs of hearing loss in adults
For many people, the signs and symptoms of hearing loss can go overlooked for years. Due to the gradual nature of hearing loss, it’s easy to not notice, or blame external people/situations for hearing challenges. In the general population, people wait an average of 7 years before seeking hearing help. There are benefits to seeking treatment sooner than later. Scheduling an annual hearing test is a simple way to monitor your hearing abilities and intervene if changes begin to occur.
Common symptoms and signs of hearing loss include:
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Increased feelings of anxiety & stress
- Mental fatigue
- The sense that people are mumbling
- Difficulty hearing cell phone conversations
- Finding conversations with your car passengers difficult
- Asking people to repeat themselves often
- Increasing the volume on your T.V. and Cell phone
- Missing small sounds like doorbells, and appliances
- Difficulty having conversations in restaurants
- Difficulty hearing sounds behind you
- Finding children and female voices the most difficult to understand
Common Causes of Hearing Loss
There are many ways in which people can lose their hearing. As we age, we naturally lose our hearing abilities over time due to the aging process. The degree and speed to which someone loses their hearing varies from person to person. Other causes of hearing loss include a history of occupational or recreational noise exposure.
People can also experience hearing loss due to ototoxic medication prescribed by their doctors. Sometimes these drugs are necessary to prevent other medical problems, but come at a price to one’s hearing health. Beyond aging, noise exposure and ototoxic substances, people can also experience hearing loss due to medical conditions including diabetes, viral infections, injury etc.
Click here to learn about the auditory system and How We Hear
Types of Hearing Loss
Types of hearing loss include sensorineural, conductive and mixed hearing loss.
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL)
Sensorineural hearing loss accounts for about 90% of reported hearing loss. SNHL is generally permanent and can be mild, moderate, severe, profound, or total. The most common kind of sensorineural hearing loss is age-related (presbycusis), followed by noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The root cause of SNHL lies in the inner ear or sensory organs, including cochlear hair cells. Inner hair cells transform sound vibrations into electrical signals that are sent to the brain.
Conductive hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss (CHL) occurs when there is a problem transferring sound waves anywhere along the pathway through the outer ear, eardrum or middle ear. Depending upon the severity and nature of the conductive loss, this type of hearing impairment can often be treated with surgery or medication to partially or, in some cases, fully restore hearing to normal. However, people with permanent or chronic conductive hearing loss may benefit from hearing aids to improve their hearing and speech perception.
Mixed hearing loss
If a conductive hearing loss occurs in conjunction with a sensorineural hearing loss, it is referred to as a mixed hearing loss.
Hearing Loss Treatment Options
An individual’s treatment options largely depend on the type and severity of hearing loss. Most people benefit from wearing advanced hearing instruments programmed specifically to their hearing loss. Hearing testing will indicate the specific frequencies and severity of loss, displayed on an Audiogram. Your hearing professional will use the results to program your hearing aids to best suit your needs.
Top-Notch Treatment for Hearing Loss in Naperville, Wheaton, and Chicago, IL
How to Detect Hearing Loss in Adults
Hearing loss often develops gradually, making the early signs easy to miss. Many people adjust to changes in their hearing without realizing it, sometimes assuming that others are mumbling, speaking too softly, or that background noise is the main problem.
Recognizing hearing changes early can make it easier to protect communication, confidence, and quality of life. Routine hearing evaluations with an experienced audiologist can help identify changes before they begin interfering with everyday activities.
If you live in Naperville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Mokena, Carol Stream, Joliet, Palos Heights, Palatine, Chicago, IL, or a nearby community, scheduling a hearing test at a trusted hearing aid center can be an important first step toward understanding your hearing health.
Here are a few signs of hearing loss:
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- Feeling as though others are mumbling or speaking unclearly
- Turning up the volume on the television, phone, or other devices
- Struggling to follow conversations in restaurants or other noisy environments
- Difficulty understanding conversations on a cell phone
- Trouble hearing passengers while riding or driving in a vehicle
- Missing softer sounds such as doorbells, timers, alerts, or household appliances
- Difficulty hearing sounds coming from behind you
- Finding children’s or women’s voices harder to understand
- Feeling mentally tired after conversations or social situations
- Increased stress or anxiety related to communication
- Avoiding social gatherings because following conversations has become difficult
- Experiencing social withdrawal or feelings of isolation
If these situations sound familiar, a professional hearing evaluation can determine whether hearing aids or another treatment option may improve your ability to communicate.
What Causes Hearing Loss
Hearing ability can change for many different reasons. One of the most common causes is the natural aging process. Age-related hearing loss usually develops slowly, although the degree and rate of change can vary considerably from one person to another.
Long-term exposure to loud sounds is another frequent cause. Occupational noise from machinery, construction equipment, manufacturing environments, or other loud workplaces can affect hearing over time. Recreational activities such as concerts, power tools, motorcycles, firearms, or listening to music at high volume may also contribute to noise-related hearing damage.
Certain medications can also affect hearing. These medications are known as ototoxic drugs. In some cases, they may be medically necessary despite the potential risk to hearing health.
Understanding the cause of your hearing difficulty helps an audiologist recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
Learn more about the auditory system and how we hear.
Types of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is generally classified into three main categories.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss, or SNHL, occurs when there is damage to structures within the inner ear or to the auditory nerve pathways transmitting sound information to the brain.
This type of hearing loss is often permanent and may range from mild to profound. Age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis, and noise-induced hearing loss are two common forms of sensorineural hearing loss.
Although sensorineural hearing loss is typically irreversible, modern hearing aids, including advanced rechargeable hearing aids, can make speech clearer and improve access to important everyday sounds.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound cannot travel efficiently through the outer ear, eardrum, or middle ear.
Depending on the underlying cause, conductive hearing loss may sometimes be treated with medication, medical procedures, or surgery. When the condition is permanent or chronic, hearing aids may help improve speech understanding and overall hearing ability.
Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. This means that a person has difficulty transmitting sound through the outer or middle ear as well as damage affecting the inner ear or auditory pathways.
Treatment Plans for Hearing Loss
Treatment for hearing loss depends on its type, severity, underlying cause, and the communication challenges you experience in daily life.
A comprehensive hearing evaluation measures how well you hear different pitches and speech sounds. The results are recorded on an audiogram, allowing your audiologist to identify the frequencies where hearing has changed and determine the level of hearing loss in each ear.
For many people, professionally fitted hearing aids are an effective way to improve communication. Today’s technology offers discreet styles, advanced speech processing, noise-management features, wireless connectivity, and convenient rechargeable hearing aids that eliminate the need for frequent disposable battery changes.