Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Consult a Doctor About Hearing Loss

Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Consult a Doctor About Hearing Loss

Health and Fitness April 7, 2016

Is aging and hearing loss inevitable? Not always, but it is still a big possibility. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDOCD), one out of every eight Americans 12 years old or older suffers hearing loss. Ther4e are many causes of hearing loss. It’s important to get the correct diagnosis in order to get the right treatment.

Tinnitus

Can tinnitus cause deafness? Actually, no, although many people with tinnitus also have hearing loss. NIDOCD states that about ten percent of Americans suffer from tinnitus at some point in their lives. Tinnitus causes annoying buzzing or ringing noises that block noises that you want to hear.

Acute Hearing Loss’

Acute hearing loss is the sudden loss of hearing, often in just one ear. Acute hearing loss causes include viral infections, bad blows to the head or spine, diseases like diabetes, and conditions like high blood pressure. Only by treating the underlying cause is there any hope of hearing coming back.

Mild Hearing Loss

People who experience a gradual loss of hearing should see an audiologist. Often, this type of hearing loss can be treated by hearing aids. The best hearing aid for old age is one that is fitted and adjusted by the audiologist for the individual. Getting a mail-order hearing aid is a huge gamble since it might not work for the kind of hearing loss you have. Some types are better suited for hearing aids inserted into the ears, while some do best with hearing aids that hang on the outside of the ear.

Hearing aid care

As we get older, we tend to find it more difficult to hear things that we once could. This can be an overwhelming and a stressful time. It can also be difficult if it is a parent or a grandparent that is the one who is now having difficulty hearing. However, it is a common problem and hundreds of thousands of people all around the world deal with loss of hearing at they get older. Fortunately, with all of the advances in technology today, there are now devices that are available to assist those with hearing just as well as they could before the hearing loss. These devices can be very beneficial and can prove to be a necessity in everyday life.

Many people who begin to experience hearing loss may wait to seek medical advice. They may be embarrassed or not want to accept the fact that they are getting older. In fact, 15 million people in the United States with hearing loss avoid seeking help. That is a large number of people who could be getting the assistance that they need, and being fitted for hearing aids. Hearing aids provide people with the ability to hear well. It can actually be a simple solution to hearing loss. However, if someone waits too long before seeking help, the hearing loss damage can be too far along for an assistive listening device.

Among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss that could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30%) has ever used them. Even fewer adults aged 20 to 69 (approximately 16%) could benefit from wearing hearing aids have ever used them. Hearing loss can occur in the younger population, as a result of loud concerts or frequent usage of damaging noise levels on headphones. Younger people tend to be more embarrassed to seek help for their hearing aid care.

Hearing loss is actually the 2nd more prevalent health issue globally. The number of people with hearing loss is more than those living with Parkinson?s, epilepsy, Alzheimer?s and diabetes combined. It is not as known of a problem, since so many people with mild and moderate hearing loss avoid seeking medical consultation regarding their hearing loss.

Those who do choose to try hearing aids for their hearing loss will benefit with easier and clearer hearing. Today affordable digital hearing aids are available, making the hearing aids more reliable and clearer. Many hearing aids run on battery usage. Batteries for hearing aids are very cost effective and can be purchased at the ear doctor?s office or even online. A quality hearing aid battery should be purchased to prevent constant replacement of the battery. It should also function well and ensure that the hearing aid is working properly at all times.

Many people today suffer from hearing loss. A large percentage of this group of people is aging. However, a smaller portion of these people are younger people who may have experienced hearing loss from loud music or concerts. Many of these people do not seek or wait to seek medical consultation for their hearing loss problems. A hearing aid can be fitted and can provide patients with great hearing despite their hearing loss problems.