How Common is Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss is very common, especially as you age. Hearing loss affects over 30% of adults over age 65, according to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.
Causes of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can occur suddenly after an injury to the ears or head, such as a ruptured eardrum. It can also develop gradually as part of the aging process, an ear infection, a buildup of earwax, or continuous exposure to loud sounds.
Signs You May Have Hearing Loss
Signs of hearing loss can happen gradually, so they can be difficult to notice. Common signs of hearing loss include:
- Hearing only muffled speech and sounds
- Experiencing difficulty picking out individual words from background sounds
- Needing people around you to speak more slowly, loudly, or clearly
- Wanting to avoid conversations or social events due to hearing difficulties
Diagnosis of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be identified with a hearing test. A simple hearing test can identify whether you have hearing loss and to what degree.
Treatment of Hearing Loss
There are several effective solutions to treat hearing loss and restore hearing. Common treatments include:
- Hearing aids, which are available in several types, including CIC hearing aids, which fit completely in the ear canal; in the ear hearing aids; or BTE hearing aids, which loop over the top and behind your ear
- Cochlear implants, to treat severe hearing loss by restoring function to areas of the ear that aren’t functioning well
- Laser microsurgery, to treat otosclerosis, a condition caused by sclerosis of the bones associated with hearing
How Often Should You Have a Hearing Test
Hearing tests are recommended at least once every 10 years through age 50 and every 3 years after that.
Want To Know More About Hearing Loss?
To discover more about the causes, signs, and treatment of hearing loss, call Drs. Peter Kaiser, Michael Gutman, and Joseph Chiara at North Valley Ear, Nose & Throat. You can reach them in Phoenix and Glendale, AZ, by calling (602) 688-6500, so call today.