What you should know about hearing loss
Check YES or NO to each item for yourself or for an adult loved one:
What you need to know
- Hearing loss develops later in life, comes on slowly, is permanent, and often gets gradually worse.
- Most of these losses can be helped effectively by individually selected prescribed and fitted hearing aids.
- Some adults can have their hearing corrected by an ENT or surgeon, so it is important to have an evaluation to make this determination.
Hearing loss indicators
If you agree with one or more of the following statements, it may indicate the need to seek a complete hearing screening.
- You “favor” one ear over the other.
- You have been told that the TV is too loud.
- You have difficulty following conversations in groups and noisy places.
- You ask people to repeat themselves, especially women and young children.
- Hearing from a distance is more trouble than it used to be, such as in church or theatre.
- Family and friends have commented on your inability to hear.
Why you may be unaware of the problem
It is typical for the individuals with a mild to moderate hearing loss to be unaware of their problem, even though family and friends are quite aware of it.
Hearing loss is invisible and almost always painless. There are no physical warning signs, except in some cases there may be ringing in the ear(s). The real reason hearing loss “sneaks” up on you is that the change is so gradual. Most hearing losses develop over a period of 25-30 years. By age 50 or 60, there can be enough deterioration to interfere with conversation.
Most hearing professionals believe that hearing loss in older adults is the accumulation of two or more causes, such as exposure to loud noises and family history or simply the natural aging process.
Hearing loss can prevent the quality of life you’ve hoped for. It can restrict your ability to interact with others, prevent you from hearing important information, cause misunderstandings, heighten stress cause unnecessary fatigue, and filter out the subtle sounds of nature. Don’t let poor hearing make you miss out on the many good and vital messages of life.