Hearing Loss
Hearing loss affects cognition
Causes
Hearing loss can be caused by a range of factors. It most often results from damaged hair cells in the cochlea, located in the inner ear. Common causes of damage to these cells include:
Aging
Also known as presbycusis, the risk of developing age-related hearing loss increases with age. This can be caused by a few contributing factors including the cumulative impact of noise exposure on the auditory system, changes to the ear, as well as medical conditions that disproportionately impact older adults and are correlated with hearing loss.
Loud Noise
Time or consistent exposure to loud noise can damage the hair cells in the inner ear. These sensory cells send auditory information to the brain which is then able to further process and assign meaning to what we hear. Loud noise can cause hair cells to become desensitized and/or die which prevents them from performing their essential function.
Medical Conditions
Numerous medical conditions increase the risk of developing hearing loss. This includes diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease which impact blood flow throughout the body including the ears; impacting how sound is absorbed and processed.
Head Injuries
An estimated 3 million injuries occur every year. These injuries include trauma to the head area which can damage parts of the auditory system, impacting hearing ability.
Other causes of hearing loss include chronic ear infections, inner ear disorders, specific medications, and autoimmune conditions.
Symptoms
Hearing loss affects an individual’s capacity to hear and process speech and sound. This produces a range of symptoms including the following:
- Tinnitus: a ringing, buzzing, or clicking-like noise in one or both ears.
- Sounds are muffled or distorted.
- Difficulty identifying individual words and following a conversation.
- Struggling to hear in places with background noise.
- Asking others to repeat themselves, speak loudly, and/or slowly.
- Needing to move to a quieter space to hear more clearly.
- Being able to hear more out of one ear compared to the other.
- Increasing the volume on the TV, phone, or other electronic devices.
- Lip reading to distinguish words.
- Keeping up with a conversation is challenging, and experiencing miscommunication.
These symptoms can be mild to more profound depending on the degree of hearing loss in each ear. Strained communication often leads to social withdrawal and can take a toll on relationships. Untreated hearing loss also increases health risks like cognitive decline, depressive symptoms, and accidental injuries. Intervening as early as possible can significantly protect the hearing you do have and help you transition into better hearing health.
Treatment
Fortunately, there are hearing solutions that can improve your hearing health and wellness. The first step is to have your hearing health comprehensively evaluated. There are a few types of hearing tests that are painless and noninvasive. Conducted by a hearing healthcare specialist, hearing tests measure hearing abilities in both ears. This identifies any hearing loss and the degree of impairment you are navigating.
Hearing aids are the most common treatment for hearing loss. These electronic devices are equipped with savvy technology that absorbs, amplifies, and processes speech and sounds. Providing ample support to the ears and brain, hearing aids alleviate symptoms and maximize hearing capacity. This not only transforms hearing and communication, but the treatment also improves relationships as well as overall health.