Hearing Loss
Aging and excessive exposure to loud noise are the most common causes of hearing loss. Other factors—such as viral or bacterial infections, an inherited disorder, or a benign tumor in the ear—also can produce hearing loss. One in 10 people in the United States has a hearing loss severe enough to affect his or her ability to hear normal speech. After age 50, most people have some degree of hearing loss. The changes occur very gradually and usually go unnoticed until a family member or friend mentions the person’s hearing problems. Among older people, a third of those between ages 65 and 74 and half of those over age 85 have hearing loss.
There are two main types of hearing loss: conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss occurs when something, such as a buildup of earwax or an abnormality in the eardrum, prevents sound waves from being transmitted to the inner ear. This type of hearing loss can sometimes be corrected with medication or surgery. Sensorineural hearing loss refers to hearing problems that occur because of damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve. Such damage can occur as a result of the aging process or because of exposure to loud noise. A hearing aid is most helpful for this type of hearing loss.
Exposure to loud noises—either a one-time exposure or repeated exposure over time—damages both the sensory hair cells of the inner ear and the auditory nerve. The longer you are exposed to loud noise and the closer you are to its source, the more damage it can cause.
The loudness of sound or noise is measured in units called decibels. A ticking watch is about 20 decibels, normal conversation is about 60 decibels, and city traffic noise is about 80 decibels. Sounds at 80 decibels or less are considered safe. Sounds between 90 and 100 decibels, such as a rock concert or a jet engine, may damage your hearing. Sounds that are between 120 and 140 decibels are usually painful and even a brief exposure can cause permanent hearing loss. Examples of things that can produce sounds over 120 decibels include motorcycles, snowmobiles, jackhammers, firecrackers, woodworking tools, and firearms.
Exposure to loud noise can occur in the workplace, in recreational settings, and at home. Some people are more sensitive to noise than others. In general, however, noise is loud enough to affect your hearing if you have to shout over it to be heard or if the noise causes pain or ringing in your ears. Temporary hearing loss that lasts for a few hours after exposure to loud noise is a sign of damage to your hearing.
For some people with hearing loss, sounds may gradually become distorted or muffled. They may experience problems having a conversation, listening to music, or even hearing a ringing doorbell or telephone. Participating in daily activities may become more difficult and less enjoyable because the person cannot hear properly and feels left out. He or she also may hear a hissing or a ringing in the ears. Hearing loss also may have psychological effects. The person may become a source of annoyance or frustration and be ridiculed or ignored by family and friends. He or she might become depressed or withdraw from others to avoid embarrassment.
Although noise damage to the inner ear is irreversible, there are steps you can take to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. The most important thing you can do to protect your hearing is to avoid loud noise whenever possible. It is a good idea, for example, to keep the volume low on your personal stereo. If other people can hear music coming from your headphones, the sound is probably loud enough to cause permanent damage to your hearing.
If you are exposed to loud noise in the workplace, be sure to wear appropriate ear protection. Using specially designed earmuffs is the most effective way to protect your hearing on the job. These earmuffs, which resemble stereo headphones, block out almost all sound. Usually they are worn by people who work around noisy equipment or under extremely noisy conditions, such as construction workers or airport baggage handlers.
Another effective form of ear protection (although less effective than earmuffs) is earplugs made of foam rubber, plastic, or wax. Earplugs are inserted into the outer ear canal and must fit snugly to provide optimal protection. They should be replaced promptly if they become soiled or worn, because they will quickly lose their effectiveness. Ordinary cotton balls cannot adequately protect your hearing. You can purchase earplugs in a variety of styles, shapes, and sizes at your local pharmacy.
If your workplace is very noisy, it is extremely important that you have your hearing checked regularly. If your employer does not have your hearing checked regularly, see your doctor, who will perform hearing tests to check for hearing loss. If hearing loss is detected early, you can take steps to prevent further damage to your ears. If noise levels at work seem too high, talk to your employer or your union representative. You may also contact your local health department or the local office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to report the problem.
If you think you may have hearing loss, see your doctor. He or she will perform audiometry using an instrument called a screening audiometer to test your hearing. This instrument produces a range of sound tones at various frequencies and volumes that are typically heard during speech. The doctor will ask you to raise your finger each time you hear a tone. The results of this test will determine whether your hearing loss is serious enough for your doctor to refer you to an audiologist, a health professional trained in evaluating hearing loss and fitting hearing aids, or an otolaryngologist, a physician who specializes in treating disorders of the ear, nose, and throat.
Tags: conductive hearing loss, hearing disorders, hearing loss, hearing problems, sensorineural hearing loss
Posted in Ears
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