Since hearing loss typically occurs gradually, many people do not realize the damaging effects that occur with hearing changes. As India ages and with Baby Boomers expected to live longer than any previous generation, hearing impairment will reach new levels in coming decades. Currently, only about one in fifty people with hearing loss seek appropriate treatment which is particularly alarming since untreated hearing loss can lead to an increase in depression, feelings of anxiety and isolation from family and friends.
Lots of elderly peoples have some degree of hearing loss due to genetics, the environment in which they surround themselves, or simply as a result of the aging process. With hearing loss, it is often difficult to understand speech. What is not sufficiently appreciated is that the individual's emotional and mental state may also be affected by the erratic and disrupted communication patterns caused by hearing loss. A person with hearing loss is four times as likely to manifest psychological disturbances than a person with normal hearing. There is also evidence that hearing loss can exacerbate the behavioral picture of patients with Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders, affecting memory, alertness, and general ability to cope, beyond the expected limiting factors of the disorder without the presence of hearing loss.
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs in the inner ear and is the most common type of hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear and/or auditory nerve due to one episode or more of prolonged exposure to loud noise, certain medications or simply the process of aging. Once damaged, the inner ear cannot be repaired. Sensorineural hearing decreases the ability to differentiate consonant sound (thus the fine distinctions in words such as hat versus cat). Most sensorineural hearing losses can be treated effectively with hearing aids.
Conductive hearing loss occurs in the outer and middle ear. The most common causes are wax build-up in the ear canal, middle ear infection, a hole in the tympanic membrane or damaged ossicles.
Mixed Hearing Loss is the combination of Sensorineural and conductive Hearing loss.
In most cases, conductive hearing loss affects the lower frequencies or pitches and makes it difficult to hear vowel sounds. Since vowels contain the "power of speech," the individual with conductive hearing loss perceives speech and other sounds as being much "quieter" than normal. The condition can often be medically treated.
The Progression of hearing loss in most cases is subtle from a small amount of hearing loss to greater and greater loss. The implications vary depending on the degree of hearing loss.
Borderline / Mild Hearing Loss
May have problems in difficult listening situations such as in groups or in noise. May need visual cues (to watch the speaker's face and especially lips) to understand some conversations and certain speakers. May need to sit close to the speaker to understand the conversation. If the problem is affecting the patient's ability to function normally in everyday life, they should probably consider amplification (hearing aid) if the hearing loss is not medically treatable.
Moderate Hearing Loss
Having difficulty understanding conversations on the telephone. Having difficulty understanding one-on-one conversations. People have to speak up for person to understand what is said. The problem is affecting the patient's ability to function normally in everyday life and they should consider amplification (hearing aid) if the hearing loss is not medically treatable.
Severe Hearing Loss
Impossible to function in difficult listening situation such as in groups or in noise. Impossible to understand conversation on the telephone. Having difficulty understanding one-on-one conversations. People have to speak up for person to understand even part of what is said. Needs to sit close to the speaker to understand even part of the conversation. Need visual cues (to watch the speaker's face and especially lips) to understand even part of any conversation and any speaker. May have difficulty identifying loud environmental sounds (sirens, telephone ring, car horn, etc.) making safety a concern. The problem is affecting the patient's ability to function normally in everyday life and they should consider amplification (hearing aid). If the hearing loss is medically treatable, it is most likely a mixed hearing loss and may require amplification post-medical treatment.
Profound Hearing Loss
With Profound Hearing Loss, it is impossible to understand one-on-one conversations and the quality of the patient's speech is affected. The problem affected the ability to function normally in everday life. If the hearing loss is medically treatable, it must be a mixed hearing loss, and will likely require amplification (hearing aid) post medical treatment to detect speech.
Central Auditory Pathway (Beyond the Inner Ear)
The "shearing motion, " stimulating the hair cells, causes impulses to be sent beyond the cochlea, to the auditory (VIIIth) nerve. The auditory nerves carries the information to the brain via the brainstem for decoding. There are auditory centers in the brain that interpret the stimulus enabling the understanding of what is being heard. If these parts of the brain are badly damaged or are not stimulated for a long period of time, a patient may not be able to hear speech even at high levels despite the fact that the auditory nerve has transmitted it to the brain.
Inner Ear
The inner ear, the end organ of hearing, contains both the cochlea and the vestibular system that works to keep the body balanced (your equilibrium). The snail-shaped cochlea contains what are called "hair cells" that are not really hairs, but microscopic cells that connect to approximately 24,000 nerve fibers which are essential for hearing. The rocking of the stapes in the oval window moves fluid within the cochlea causing a "shearing" action or movement of the hair cells. This shearing action causes the hair cells to send an electrical impulse to the auditory nerve (VIIIth nerve).
Middle Ear
The middle ear contains the three smallest bones in the body: the malleus, incus and stapes. These bones conduct sound through the air filled middle ear and transfer the sound to the inner ear. These bones are known as the "ossicles" and are connected to form the "ossicular chain". The last bone in the chain is pushed in and out of the oval window of the cochlea. The Eustachian tube, which equalizes pressure between the ear and the environment, is also found in the middle ear.
Outer Ear
The outer ear consists of the external ear (pinna or auricle), the ear canal (external auditory meatus) and the ear drum (tympanic membrane). The outer ear directs sound into the ear canal and carries it to the eardrum. When these sound vibration reach the eardrum, the eardrum begins to vibrate
The Sound That Won’t Go Away
Hearing loss may be too much “ silence “ for some, but tinnitus is a sound that won’t go away. Tinnitus, or ear ringing, may be experienced as a buzz, whistle, roar or chirping. It is the perception of sound without an external cause. Many people are not particularly bothered by it, but as many as five million Americans find tinnitus chronic, irritating, and even unbearable.
Causes of Tinnitus
There are at least 400 known causes for tinnitus including noise trauma, orthodontia disorders and certain medications, but it may be hard to pinpoint which one of these is the basis for a particular case of tinnitus. Half of all tinnitus is accompanied by hearing loss. Unfortunately, there is no completely proven medical cure.
Help for Tinnitus
There is hope for many thanks to tinnitus control devices and tinnitus control hearing aids. These have been developed to shift awareness away from the relentless tinnitus noise and thereby relieve the stress of tinnitus. They emit a pleasant sound that is therapeutic, like the sound of gently rolling waves. Tinnitus control hearing aids are combination devices that produce the therapeutic sound and assist hearing loss the same way regular hearing aids do. Both types of devices are designed to be used in combination with tinnitus therapy and/or counseling for optimum results.
Questions
Do people complain that you aren’t listening ?
Do people complain that you turn the TV volume too high ?
Do you understand men’s voices better than Women’s ?
Do you have trouble hearing birds or the wind in the trees ?
Do voices sound blurry __ like people mumble ?
Do you have to ask people to repeat themselves frequently , even in quiet rooms ?
Do you need to turn toward the person speaking or cup your ear to understand what is being said ?
Do you find yourself confusing words or making silly mistakes ?
Do you miss hearing common sounds, like the ringing of the phone or doorbell ?
Do you have difficulty hearing in public gathering places __ concert halls, theaters, houses of worship
Where sound sources are far from the listener ?
Do you have difficulty hearing television and/or on the telephone ?
Do you have trouble understanding conversation within a group of people ?
Do you avoid group meetings, social occasions, or Family gatherings where listening may be difficult or where one may feel embarrassed about misunderstanding what is being said ?
Has a friend or family member mentioned that you could have a hearing problem ?
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