Everything You Need to Know About Hearing Loss

Losing your hearing can be a scary experience and often happens unexpectedly, so you might not have all the information you need when your hearing starts to go. In addition, you might have many questions, such as why we lose our hearing and what can be done about it. 

You will find the answers you need in the article below. We tell you why people lose their hearing, how hearing can be tested, and the types of hearing devices available today.  

Why do we lose our hearing?

Hearing loss is caused by getting older; it is also caused by congenital issues and exposure to loud noises. Hearing loss can affect anyone at any time, but it's likely to affect everyone at some point in their life. 

Hearing loss happens when the inner ear's tiny hairs that carry sounds to the cochlea and onto the brain are lost and damaged. They can be lost with age, but also when exposed to loud noises. 

What can we do about hearing loss?

If you have signs of hearing loss, such as difficulty hearing an everyday conversation, or you turn the volume up of the television or your phone, it's time to seek some medical advice. You can start the journey with your medical professional or your audiologist. 

The good news is that hearing loss can be treated by hearing devices and lifestyle changes. Following a short non-invasive hearing test, you will get a hearing device that is modern and hidden. A hearing device will return your hearing to its normal capacity.  

Testing for hearing loss

Testing for hearing loss is non-invasive and straightforward; the most common type of hearing test is a tone test. You can carry out a tone test at your local audiologist's office. You sit on a chair in a soundproof room and listen to various tones. 

The audiologist determines your hearing range and advises on the best hearing device; you might also be given some advice for lifestyle changes. Testing can be carried out in a few hours; remember to take your medical records to your audiologist's office.  

Treatment for hearing loss

The most common treatment for hearing loss is a hearing aid device. These are worn behind the ear and amplify environmental sounds so you can hear them more easily. Modern hearing devices have advanced settings and can handle Bluetooth. 

If you have long-term hearing loss, you might also benefit from cochlear implants. These are implanted into the inner ear; they are discrete and very effective at improving hearing in both ears. 

Hearing loss prevention 

Although there are plenty of treatment options for hearing loss, the best way to protect your hearing is through hearing prevention; this means having your ears tested regularly at your audiologist's office and protecting your ears from loud noises. 

If you work in a noisy environment or you live in a noisy area, you should avoid noises over 80 decibels and wear earplugs when possible. This will protect the cilia hairs in your ears and make your hearing last longer without medical treatment.