Wednesday, 25 April 2018

Hearing Loss Is No Longer Unavoidable

The increase in traffic, more powerful home entertainment systems, louder cinema experiences, jet engines and powerful machinery are contributing to a noisier world. This has meant that the number of Americans who are either deaf or suffer from hearing difficulties has risen to over 28 million.

Thankfully, it is possible to delay or even prevent completely many forms of hearing loss. Medical treatments have improved and the hearing aids that are available today are more comfortable and more effective than in the past.

Hearing loss sufferers are becoming younger as more people become exposed to dangerous sound levels. The number of Americans that are living with irreversible damage to their hearing from dangerous noise levels is around 10 million, and 30 million are exposed to damaging levels of noise every day.


People between the ages of 45 and 64 have the highest amount of hearing loss with a 365% loss amongst males and 85% loss amongst women. Preventing hearing loss from noise and ear infections including middle ear infections in children is possible.

Experts recommend hearing tests should begin at birth. Otocoustic emissions is a new, inexpensive technique that can accurately detect any problems that may exist in newborn babies. Language skills begin to develop in the first six months after birth and by diagnosing any problems as early as possible will give a child the best opportunity for healthy development.

Sound is collected by our outer ears and causes the ear drum and the tiny bones of the inner ear to vibrate. Hair shaped cells inside the ear and cochlea convert the vibrations into electrical nerve impulses which then travel to the brain. These cells do not grow back if they become damaged.

One common symptom of hearing damage is tinnitus where the person hears a constant ringing or a buzz which is not actually present. Approximately 40 million people in America suffer from tinnitus to some degree but most manage to carry out their lives as normal.

Some suffers find the level of noise easily bearable and many have described the sounds as crickets which they hear and which can lull them off to sleep. But for others tinnitus can be simply maddening. Unfortunately there is currently no cure for tinnitus but approximately 80% of the 10 million people who do suffer from severe tinnitus can get some form of relief.

William Shatner, the actor best known for his role as Captain Kirk on the television series Star Trek was almost driven to commit suicide after being tormented by tinnitus. He believes it is possible that explosions let off on set of Star Trek could have been the cause of his condition.

You can protect yourself from hearing loss in the following ways. You can save your hearing by wearing protective earplugs. Exposure to any sounds above 90 decibels from thing like electric drills and motorcycles for a long period can cause a temporary loss of hearing. Any equipment that produces over 100 decibels of sound can damage your hearing in 15 minutes if unprotected. Permanent hearing loss can be caused by exposure to anything over 110 decibels, including chainsaws, music concerts and heavy industrial machinery.

Hearing damage can be caused by ear infections if they are not treated early. Some ear infections do not involve any pain or fever. No other symptoms may be present apart from a loss in hearing. If you ever have any loss in hearing you should immediately see a doctor to get a test done.

Your one-stop resource on free hearing test is waiting for you. Visit the page on hearing clinics to get more information.

No comments:

Post a Comment