Symptoms

Hearing Healthcare the way you "Prefer" it to be!

"How do I know if I have hearing loss?"
Many people are aware that their hearing has declined but are resistant to seeking help. Others don't notice until their friends and family members complain that they turn up the television volume too loud or until they notice to misunderstand what was said.

 

Hearing Loss happens so gradually over time that we are unaware of how our behaviors change.

You might have a hearing loss if you. . .

Socially:

·          Require frequent repetition.

·          Have difficulty following conversations involving 2 or more people.

·          Think that other people sound muffled or like they're mumbling.

·          Have difficulty hearing in noisy situations (conferences, restaurants)

·          Have trouble hearing children and women.

·          Have your TV or radio turned up to a high volume.

·          Answer or respond inappropriately in conversations.

·          Have ringing in your ears.

·          Read lips or more intently watch people's faces when they speak to you.

 

Emotionally:

·          Feel stressed out from straining to hear what others are saying.

·          Feel annoyed at other people because you can't hear or understand them.

·          Feel embarrassed to meet new people or from misunderstanding what others say.

·          Feel nervous about trying to hear and understand.

·          Withdraw from social situations that you once enjoyed because of difficulty hearing.

 

Medically:

·          Have a family history of hearing loss.

·          Take medications that can harm the hearing system (ototoxic drugs).

·          Have diabetes, heart, circulation or thyroid problems.

·          Been exposed to very loud sounds (long periods or explosive).

 

General Guidlines on incidence of hearing loss

·          3 in 10 people over age 60 have hearing loss.

·          1 in 6 baby boomers (14.6% of people 41-59 years old) have hearing problems.

·          1 in 14 Generation Xers (ages 29-40 years already have hearing loss.

·          At least 1.4 million children ages 18 or younger have hearing problems.

·          It is estimated that 3 in 1000 infants are born with serious to profound hearing loss.

 

Hearing loss does not only affect "old people."

As can be seen from the facts above, the majority of people (65%) of people with hearing loss are younger than age 65. There are more than six million people in the U.S> between the ages of 18-44 with hearing loss, and nearly one and a half million are school age. Hearing loss affects all age groups.

 

"If I had a hearing loss, my family doctor would have told me."
Not true! Only 13% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical. Since most people with hearing loss hear well in a quiet environment like a doctor's office, it can be virually impossible for your physician to recognize the extent of your problem. Without special training, and an understanding of the nature of hearing loss, it may be difficult for your doctor ot even realize that you have a hearing problem.

Facts and figures from the Better Hearing Institute in Washington, DC. www.betterhearing.org.