The Gradual Process of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is the third most common health condition that affects Americans today. Yet, majority of people appear overly surprised when they are diagnosed with hearing loss. There is this underlying belief that hearing loss happens to the old; to others, but not to me! Unfortunately, hearing loss can strike at any point in your lifetime, and not only because of old age.

Loss of hearing takes years to develop, which is why it goes unnoticed for the first couple of years since you can probably follow most of what is going on around you. Even if you miss a couple of words here and there, you may attribute that to other causes such as being distracted, tired or stressed. Only when you start missing out on big chunks during a conversation may be the time you first begin to think that something is amiss.

You may liken hearing loss to stealing money from a piggy bank. At first, you may not notice if you remove a dime here or a nickel there, but over time when the piggy bank becomes bare, you are bound to notice that something is missing! This is the same with hearing loss. Even though at first it may not get your attention, as it adds up you are bound to notice and it may be too late by then.

This is why it is important not to wait and get your hearing tested at the first signs of hearing loss. Loss of hearing has been associated with numerous health problems, such as dementia, heart disease, and depression. Hearing aids can help you get your hearing back on track.

You may think that you do not have to deal with hearing loss until it gets “bad enough,” but that means you are waiting for it to cause more damage to your hearing, which can become difficult for even hearing aids to rectify.

By constantly raising the volume on the television or pretending as though you can hear, you are only delaying the inevitable. Hearing loss does not simply go away. Thankfully, you may not need to worry about it in some cases since the reasons for hearing loss may be simple and easy to remedy.

There are times when temporary hearing loss is caused by too much earwax, or an ear infection which can easily be addressed by a medical doctor. This form of loss of hearing is called conductive hearing loss and accounts for around 20% of all the cases of hearing damage. These cases are also the easiest to rectify and the patient can have their hearing restored.

In 80% of hearing loss cases, however, there is permanent damage to hearing which is irreversible. These cases can involve hearing loss due to age, or hearing loss due to exposure to loud noises over a period of time. No matter what the case, hearing loss is not something to be taken lightly. Early intervention can ensure optimal amount of care and gives you a better chance of getting back the life you truly deserve.