Many people who have hearing loss don’t even realize that they have a hearing problem. Many of our patients tell us things like, “People just mumble a lot these days,” or, “I hear fine, except when there is background noise,” but don’t believe that they have hearing loss. On average, people wait seven years between first having a problem with their hearing and consulting a professional about it.

Hearing loss is more complex than many people realize. Many patients who have hearing loss only have problems with hearing certain sounds, but not all types of sounds. They may understand conversation perfectly well in a quiet room, but cannot understand most words while in a group or a noisy public environment. In many cases, hearing loss affects sounds of higher pitches more than those of lower pitches, meaning that patients may have trouble hearing the higher-pitched voices of women and children while still hearing men’s deeper voices fairly well. Given that they can still hear certain sounds in certain situations, many patients with hearing loss are reluctant to bring up the issue with their healthcare providers because they don’t believe that they really have a problem.

Often, the person with hearing loss downplays the problem, while family members or friends may be more aware of the actual degree of hearing loss. At our Oklahoma City audiology practice, we’ve seen many patients who only came to see us because their families “made” them come, only to discover that they actually did have a significant hearing problem.

Some of the symptoms of hearing loss include the following:

• Frequently asking others to repeat themselves or speak up
• Turning up the volume on the radio or TV, until it’s too loud for others in the room
• Difficulty following a conversation, particularly in a noisy room
• Difficulty following a conversation with more than one person at a time
• Frequently misunderstanding what others have said
• Avoidance of noisy or crowded social settings, or even of conversation in general

If you notice these signs in yourself or in a loved one, it’s time to get an evaluation by an audiologist.

Hearing loss is very common. In fact, it’s the third most prevalent chronic condition in older Americans, after arthritis and hypertension (high blood pressure). Estimates indicate that about 1 in 3 Americans over age 65 has hearing loss. Unfortunately, hearing tests for older adults are not standard; only 16% of physicians screen for hearing loss. This can result in many cases of hearing loss going undetected and untreated for years.

Although it’s more common in older people, hearing loss can affect people of all ages. Nearly 15% of school-age children (ages 6 to 19) have some degree of hearing loss, which can affect their school performance and social lives if left untreated. Approximately 5 in 1000 babies are born with hearing loss, and need early treatment to protect their language development. Most children with hearing loss are born to parents of normal hearing, making treatment of hearing loss crucial for protecting the relationship between parent and child. We see patients in many different age groups at our Oklahoma City audiology practice.

There are many causes of hearing loss. The most common causes are aging and chronic exposure to loud noises.

Ear infections and excessive ear wax in the ear canal are also common causes of hearing loss. Together, these account for up to 30% of cases of hearing loss in older adults. Both are highly treatable. However, if an ear infection goes untreated for too long or a patient has many untreated ear infections, then the resulting damage to the ear can be permanent. This is why it’s important to talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about your hearing.

Other causes of hearing loss include the use of certain medications, stroke, trauma, certain viruses, and other diseases of the inner ear (such as Meniere’s disease).

Conductive Hearing Loss: This type may be due to an outer ear or a middle ear problem. Some of the causes of conductive hearing loss include excessive or compacted ear wax, damage to the eardrum, and fluid behind the ear drum.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss: This type is due to an inner ear problem or a problem with the nerves or brain regions that process sound, and is the most common type of hearing loss. Some of the causes of sensorineural hearing loss are genetics, exposure to excessive noise levels, certain medications, and aging.

Mixed Hearing Loss:  This is a combination of a conductive with a sensorineural hearing loss.

The first step in treating hearing loss is to determine the underlying cause. If it’s something that can be treated, such as an ear infection, then this treatment may correct the hearing loss. However, in many cases (such as when hearing loss is due to noise exposure or aging), the hearing loss is not reversible.

In these cases, treatment of hearing loss includes hearing aids. These devices amplify sound to make it easier for the patient to hear. Modern hearing aids are advanced devices that use computer technology to detect sounds of interest and preferentially amplify these, while minimizing background noises. In addition, many other features are available to improve the wearer’s hearing function, including telecoils (which can connect to hearing loops to make it easier to hear in public spaces). When you come for your appointment at our Oklahoma City audiology practice, Dr. Wiztke will explain the various options to you.

Many people are surprised to learn that there is a connection between hearing loss and dementia. Research has demonstrated that people with hearing loss are at a higher risk for developing dementia than are those of normal hearing. Scientists believe that being unable to hear well deprives the brain of an important source of stimulation, which contributes to the brain’s decline. Additionally, people with hearing loss tend to become socially isolated, and the loss of social support also damages the brain.

Those who receive treatment for their hearing loss greatly reduce their risk of dementia. Research has shown that those who use hearing aids are significantly less likely to develop dementia than are those whose hearing loss goes untreated. In addition, people who use hearing aids score significantly better on various measures of social, emotional, and psychological well-being than do those with untreated hearing loss.

In addition, hearing loss can sometimes be mistaken for dementia, because most of the exam that tests for dementia is given verbally. In some cases, a patient may test positive for dementia when they are actually cognitively healthy, but simply cannot hear the examiner properly. Ideally, hearing should be evaluated prior to testing for dementia.

 What is an Audiologist?

• Audiologists are the primary licensed healthcare professionals who evaluate, diagnose, treat, and manage hearing loss and balance disorders in adults and children.

What are some common signs of hearing loss?

• You have increased difficulty understanding people in noisy environments (i.e. restaurants, parties, cars, etc)
• Family, friends, or colleagues often have to repeat themselves when speaking to you
• You have difficulty understanding people when they are not facing you or are in another room
• You have difficulty following conversations
• Family, friends, or colleagues seem to “mumble” all the time

 What can cause hearing loss?

• Exposure to excessive loud noise
• Ear infections, ear disease, or trauma
• Illness or certain medications
• Birth defects/genetics
• Presbycusis (gradual hearing loss that occurs later in life)

What are the types of hearing loss?

• Sensorineural hearing loss – The most common type of permanent hearing loss. It occurs due to damage to the inner ear or to nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain.
• Conductive hearing loss – The hearing loss occurs due to disorders in the outer or middle ear, which prevent sounds from getting to the inner ear. This type of hearing loss can often be treated medically/surgically.
• Mixed hearing loss – The hearing loss is a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.
  * Severity of hearing loss is not described in terms of percentage of loss. Percentage of loss is a legal term to determine compensation benefits.

How much do hearing aids cost?

• The cost of hearing aids varies depending on the type of the hearing aid, the number of features as well as the services offered with the hearing aids. The type of hearing aid recommended is dependent on patient’s hearing loss and lifestyle.

Are hearing aids covered by insurance?

• Some insurance companies provide hearing aid benefits, however hearing aids are rarely fully covered by insurance. At this time, Medicare does not provide hearing aid benefits.

Can hearing aids restore my hearing?

• No and it will not prevent progression of hearing loss. Hearing aids are designed to amplify residual hearing function only.

How long do hearing aids last?

• Hearing aids usually last 4-6 years.

If I have hearing loss in both ears, do I have to wear two hearing aids?

• There are three main reasons why two hearing aids are better than one. When both ears are working together, you are able to hear better in the presence of noise, there is a natural boost of up to 6 dB to the loudness of the hearing aids, and you are able to localize sounds more easily.

What is the ringing in my ears?

• Tinnitus is the medical term for the ringing in your ears. Tinnitus is characterized by sound that is perceived in the absence of any external sound source. In many cases, tinnitus accompanies hearing loss; however tinnitus can be present in perfectly healthy ears. There is no known cure for tinnitus, but there are many tinnitus management strategies available for those who suffer from bothersome tinnitus.