Hearing Loss
Improve your hearing
Treatment makes a difference
Research has concluded that hearing loss treatment is shown to improve:
- Physical health
- Communication in relationships
- Intimacy and warmth in family relationships
- Ease in communication
- Emotional stability
- Sense of control over life events
- Earning power
Hearing loss signs
Are you one of them?
Do you:
- Feel like other people mumble or slur their words?
- Ask others to repeat themselves?
- Turn up the television or radio volume to levels others find too loud?
- Have trouble understanding conversation in noisy places?
- Have trouble hearing women’s and children’s voices?
- Feel more irritable or depressed?
- Avoid social situations that were once enjoyable?
- Have difficulty following a fast-moving conversation
- Miss important information in meetings?
- Have others telling you that you have a hearing loss?
Prevent Damage
What can you do?
Hearing loss is a gradual and normal part of the aging process. However, excessive noise is still the primary cause. Permanent hearing loss can occur almost instantly with unprotected exposure to certain sounds.
To protect yourself from noise:
- If the sound level at work exceeds 85dB, reduce the noise level or wear hearing protection.
- Lower the volume of your television, stereo and iPod. Take special care if you use headphones or earbuds.
- Be careful not to turn up your car stereo volume too loudly to compensate for noise from the engine or the wind.
- Wear custom noise filters or solid earplugs if you go to rock concerts or nightclubs, and don’t stand near loud speakers.
- Wear noise-cancelling headphones or solid earplugs if you use noisy equipment such as drills, lawnmowers, etc.
To avoid damage from foreign objects:
- Don’t use cotton swabs to clean your ears. Doing so may push wax down onto your eardrum and can increase the production of wax and/or damage the eardrum.
- Avoid washing with unclean water to prevent ear infections.
What are decibels?
Decibels (dB) measure the intensity of sound: from 0dB, which is the faintest sound the human ear can detect, to the noise of a rocket during launch, which can exceed 180dB.
Experts typically consider exposure to more than 85dB to be dangerous, which means things like motorcycles, headphones and lawnmowers have potential to lead to permanent hearing loss.
Are you at risk?
If you’re exposed to sounds above 85dB, you may be putting your hearing at risk.
Take action
Finding the right hearing care professional
If you think you or someone you know has hearing loss, the next step is an easy one — confirm it by seeing a hearing healthcare professional.
Whether you consult with an audiologist, an ENT doctor or a hearing aid specialist, it’s important to see someone who specializes in hearing problems. Seeing a hearing specialist will ensure you will receive a comprehensive evaluation and precise measurement of your hearing loss.
