HEARING IS IMPORTANT
- Our hearing is integral to keeping us connected with the world around us, and to those we love
- Experiencing hearing loss can have a dramatic impact on our quality of life and overall well-being
WHO SUFFERS FROM HEARING LOSS
- Hearing loss is one of the most common disabilities that adults experience as they age
- 48 million Americans have hearing loss (65% have mild loss; 30% moderate; 5% profound)
- More than 60% of older adults have some degree of hearing loss
- Baby Boomers (ages 45-65) are developing hearing loss at a faster rate and younger age than previous generations
WHAT CAUSES HEARING LOSS
- Hearing loss is caused by age related deterioration, head or ear trauma, harm to the inner ear and ear drum, infections, medications and hereditary or congenital conditions, or noise exposure over time (street noise, loud appliances and toys, personal listening devices, concerts, etc.)
WHY HEARING LOSS IS OFTEN UNADDRESSED
- Hearing loss is generally a slow and insidious process
- Because deterioration occurs over a long period of time, people become accustomed to accommodating for the loss and may not realize it’s impact on their life
- Hearing loss sufferers usually wait an average of 5-7 years before seeing a specialist for help (during this time deterioration typically continues)
CONSEQUENCES OF UNTREATED HEARING LOSS
- A recent study by Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging found a correlation between untreated hearing loss and a loss of cognitive function, noting a higher risk of developing forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s (i.e. auditory stimulation is critical to maintaining healthy brain function)
- Untreated hearing loss can affect a person’s ability to understand speech, as well as negatively impact their social, emotional and physical well-being
- Many hearing loss sufferers self-isolate by withdrawing from family, friends and colleagues as their frustration grows
- Incidents of serious depression are higher in those with untreated hearing loss
HEARING LOSS PREVENTION
While hearing loss may be inevitable as a result of age, increased noise exposure or illness, there are steps that everyone can take in their daily lives to help prevent hearing loss and/or arrest continued decline. Limiting ones exposure to loud sound sources or actively using hearing protection can help prevent damage from taking place, or can prevent any losses from becoming worse.
Focusing on how to better care for our hearing is important, as it is easy to take it for granted…until we lose it. Zounds Hearing is passionate about educating the public on hearing loss, its causes, and how to prevent it. We are also pleased to serve as a hearing health resource within our community.
Hearing loss prevention begins with understanding the causes of hearing loss. New studies have shown that hearing loss is not just a factor of age, but of noise exposure. While we can’t stop the clock on aging, we can control the level of noise in our environment. According to The Hearing Health Foundation, we experience loud sounds in our everyday life that normally do not adversely affect our hearing. However, when we are exposed to harmful noise, sounds that are too loud, or loud sounds that last a long time, sensitive structures in our inner ear can be damaged, causing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). These sensitive structures, called hair cells, are small sensory cells in the inner ear that convert sound energy into electrical signals that travel to the brain. Once damaged, our hair cells cannot grow back and hearing loss is inevitable. It’s not unusual for many people to be unaware of their hearing loss, and common responses like increasing the volume on TVs and radios can further damage healthy hair cells which only exacerbates the problem.
Noise pollution has become a hazard to hearing health, and in order to combat it and the eventual effects of continued exposure to it, it is important to educate ourselves and change our lifestyles. Every day, we experience sound in our environment, sounds that we don’t associate with potential hearing loss. We get used to tolerating loud television and radio, household appliances, construction and traffic noise, but do we protect ourselves from it?
Music Induced Hearing Loss (MIHL) is a prime example of prolonged exposure to loud sound. Our youth and young adults spend hours listening to loud music with earplugs, and many are unaware of the damage this does to their hearing. Exposure to sounds between 90-100 decibels for prolonged periods of time has been shown to cause hearing loss.
Combating the early onset of hearing loss is possible through proper education, caution, and prudent use of protective gear. The fact is, Noise Induced Hearing Loss can easily be prevented by reducing volume levels and using protective headphones or earplugs regularly. While some will avoid using ear safety products due to discomfort and embarrassment, these concerns are far outweighed by the possibility of hearing loss in the long term. Comfortable, convenient products are widely available on the market.
For those who do suffer from hearing loss, one matter of concern is that denial can overshadow the need for a proper hearing exam. Since most hearing loss occurs over an extended period of time, we naturally compensate for it and may not realize that we have incurred a significant loss. This is why we wait on average 5-7 years to seek professional help. Perhaps someone who cares about you has suggested that you might have a hearing loss and need to have your hearing tested? Or you sometimes feel frustrated that others around you seem to mumble, making conversations difficult? A hearing evaluation will help determine if you have a hearing loss, or if there is another underlying cause, such as excessive wax in the canal or a medical condition in need of attention.
Zounds Hearing NYC offers complimentary hearing evaluations to individuals concerned about their hearing. For further information on how to prevent hearing loss, or to schedule a free hearing evaluation, please call us at (212) 879-2329 or visit www.zoundsnyc.com.