Did you hear the pigeons cooing outside your window tonight? Do you love it when they fly over your head to remind you that summer is coming to an end? These pleasant noises and many more are lost to more than 50 million hard of hearing people. Audiologists agree that frequent use of powerful vacuums, lawn mowers, or leaf blowers can damage your hearing if you do not use earplugs in these activities.
The list of harmful events and devices that audiologists have rated as poor for our hearing is quite long. The hearing loss caused by these frequent noises affects many Americans with some degree of permanent hearing loss and those seeking the latest in hearing aid technology.
Anyone can lose their hearing. From the great businessman to the rock star to the stay-at-home mom, everyone faces the risk of hearing loss. Actors, actresses, sports stars and even presidents have had to deal with it. They have all found help for hearing loss with hearing aids.
Hearing problems are extremely common and dangerous in the United States. The most common form of permanent hearing loss is sensorineural, which means nerve damage has occurred. Because this is caused by a number of causes, hearing aids should be used to combat them. There are currently over a thousand hearing aid models available on the market. Designs range from those built into the ear canal to devices with microphones.
Temporary hearing loss is most often the result of an ear infection. It costs over a billion dollars a year to treat children and young children. According to an otolaryngologist, there are some encouraging and exciting new advances in neonatal testing. In general, hearing tests in young children were not done until they showed signs of hearing loss. Testing in early childhood allows doctors to plan interventions and treatments early if they can be more effective.
One such test in use today involves cochlear hair, which responds to a loud / soft sound by emitting an otoacoustic wave. Growth and constriction can be measured and emit sound waves that are difficult to see. Although little is known, one of the most common hearing problems is the loss of high frequency noise, often associated with age. Another common problem is ringing in the ears or tinnitus. This is seen in 50 million Americans and is often associated with hearing loss.
But for most of us, our hearing loss cannot be linked to Mother Nature. Audiologists have stated that most hearing loss problems are the result of Western culture. In every hearing clinic you will find many patients who prove that our modern way of life can have serious side effects on our hearing. Work and leisure environments are louder than ever, and our stereos, cars, snowmobiles, farm equipment, office equipment, or even household appliances like your vacuum cleaner can negatively impact our hearing.
The early stages of hearing loss often go undetected. So how do you test if you are starting to have hearing loss? You may have noticed that you have trouble recognizing sounds that are higher or lower than normal, or maybe people always seem to be mumbling instead of speaking normally. Tilt your head to the side to hear what others are saying? You can try to avoid large social functions. The brain and inner ear share a complex process to help you understand a particular sound in a crowd, and hearing aids cannot. We go through our lives every day, surrounded by sounds, and yet most keep thinking about this amazing miracle.