Often we feel that someone we know is not answering us or asks us to repeat sentences. We get offended or it might be the reverse where we can’t make out what others are saying and they feel bad. We feel rejected or even feel ignored. But actually we need to understand why it is happening. It really could be a simple case of hearing loss.
To find out if someone is suffering from hearing loss and to treat it timely is very important to prevent the psychological consequences of hearing loss in people affected by it and in those living with such patients.
There was a time when hearing loss would commonly affect old people but nowadays due to various lifestyle changes and prolonged exposure to loud sounds, even the younger population is getting affected frequently and they are the ones who are reluctant to use hearing aids citing cosmetic reasons. So the good news is that not all hearing losses need hearing aids and not all hearing aids look cosmetically bad.
First thing first let's understand the early signs of hearing trouble?
It may start with a little ringing in your ears, combined with occasionally turning up the volume when you listen to something. Eventually, you find yourself using the closed captioning, having trouble understanding what people are saying in noisy environments, and even reading lips from time to time. These are the classic symptoms of hearing loss as they progress over time.
If you are beginning to experience hearing loss, you may be wondering if you need hearing aids, and if so, when you should see a doctor to start the process. Early treatment is best. When people, especially older people, are unable to hear for long periods of time, it can cause them to feel detached from the world. In fact, people who use hearing aids have a lower risk of dementia than those who do not use them.
It is important to make sure you understand when and where to get hearing aids, and also to understand the way hearing loss and hearing aids work.
Three main reasons for hearing loss:
When you go in to have your hearing tested, an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor is usually who you would visit first. The first thing that they do is check for an excess buildup of earwax or fluid inside the ear. These are causes of hearing loss that can be fixed, restoring normal hearing.
If these are not the causes, the doctor will do a head and neck exam to identify other types of hearing loss and examine your medical and family history to see if there is a history of hearing loss. If they identify that the problem lies in the eardrum or in the hearing bones, there may be a surgical solution that would not require hearing aids.
If the doctor ends up determining that the cause of the hearing loss is in the inner ear (which is the most common kind of hearing loss which may require a hearing aid), the next step is to go to an audiologist for an audiogram to determine how bad the hearing loss is, which helps determine what kind of hearing aid is needed.
Basics of choosing a Hearing Aid
The primary objective of a hearing aid is to amplify sound. That should be the first thing you consider. Hearing aids come in various sizes, with larger sizes having the capability to create louder sound. For this reason, your choice of hearing aid should be based on the degree of hearing loss you are suffering.
Smaller hearing aids can usually fit inside the ear, while larger ones tend to sit behind the ear. Once you have figured out what type of hearing aid you need, you can decide if you need any additional features, like Bluetooth connectivity, longer battery life, rechargeable batteries, and other quality- of-life enhancements. Cost may be a factor, as some insurance providers cover hearing aids while others do not.
It helps to talk through selecting your hearing aid with your medical provider. Once you have the right one in place, you’ll be able to connect and communicate with the world around you.
So next time you feel someone is having a tough time hearing and understanding language, do send them to an ENT specialist and audiologist to look into their problem and their ears 😊
P.S. Hearing loss in young children and babies is a completely different scenario and we might need a different blog to discuss it.
Dr Garima Goel
( India )