First of all, you must recognize that someone with hearing impairment doesn't necessarily need your help. You are welcome to be encouraging, considerate, and helpful when asked, but don't be patronizing. For the purpose of helping yourself be a better friend, family member, or coworker, remember the following things. Don't forget that someone is hearing impaired; for instance, don't expect them to hear what you say to them when their backs are turned and don't whisper. In conversation, face the person when you are talking to him or her. Speak clearly and in complete sentences, especially to children who are developing language skills. Make sure that he or she understands what you said. It isn't impertinent to ask someone with hearing impairment to tell you the best way to converse with them so that everyone understands.
Hearing Damage
Good hearing depends on a series of events that change sound waves into electrical signals that travel through our cells and nerves to our brains. When the hair cells (cilia) or auditory nerves that make this happen are damaged, your hearing is affected. Most people think of hearing loss (deafness) when the ear is damaged, but you can have other symptoms, too. You may hear a ringing or roaring sound. Most cases of hearing damage in those over 65 are caused by aging and heredity, but doctors are increasingly concerned about hearing damage in young patients, such as those who are exposed to loud on-the-job noises or recreational noise). It's important to understand the causes of hearing loss and what you can do to prevent it.
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Sigma Nursing answeredSee All 3 AnswersThe symptoms of hearing loss can vary, depending on the cause of the hearing loss and the emotional nature of the individual. Some people with hearing loss have difficulty following conversations in a group or have trouble hearing high-pitched voices such as young children or a woman speaking. Repeatedly turning up the volume on the radio or television may be another symptom of hearing loss. Also, if you find that you’re watching people’s faces instead of listening to their voices, you may have hearing loss. Hearing loss has emotional symptoms, too. For example, you may have been a highly social individual and then you suddenly avoid large groups or gatherings because you cannot hear what’s being said. Or, you may feel agitated with family members because you cannot hear what they are saying. -
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Sigma Nursing answeredSee All 4 AnswersHearing loss is a common physical problem among people of all ages. Today about 17 percent (36 million) of American adults report some degree of hearing loss. [1] Older adults may have hearing loss because of degeneration of the nerve tissue in the ear. The medical term for this is presbycusis. Young children may be born with a congenital deformity that causes deafness or hearing loss. Young and middle age adults can have hearing loss from exposure to loud noises or vibrations.
With hearing loss, there may be difficulty in hearing sound levels, difficulty in understanding words, and difficulty in determining the direction of a sound or a combination of these problems. Sometimes hearing loss stabilizes rather than continuing to worsen. While there is no specific medication that is excellent for relief of hearing loss, there are hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and even surgery that can enhance your ability to hear. -
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Dr. David M. Vernick, MD , Ear, Nose & Throat (Otolaryngology), answeredSee All 2 AnswersBefore buying a hearing aid, it's a good idea to meet with more than one qualified hearing aid dispenser so that you can compare prices and service contracts. Evaluate the service contracts carefully. A contract should allow you to get a partial refund if the hearing aid you buy doesn't work out for you after about a month. If you want to return the hearing aid during or at the end of your defined trial period, you should receive your money back for the hearing aid, but it's fair for the audiologist or other dispenser to be paid for the time spent fitting and adjusting it. If the contract requires you to pay in full for the hearing aid even if it proves unhelpful to you, consider going elsewhere. -
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American Diabetes Association answeredSee All 2 AnswersHearing aids are getting smaller and smaller. It is unlikely anyone will notice when you are wearing them. The truth is, people are more likely to notice your hearing loss. People who don't treat their hearing problems can become depressed and try to avoid their friends. On the other hand, studies show that people who wear hearing aids often have a better quality of life. -
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Dr. David M. Vernick, MD , Ear, Nose & Throat (Otolaryngology), answeredSee All 2 AnswersHearing loss runs in families. If one or both of your parents became deaf in their advanced years, you have a higher than average chance of age-related hearing loss. Research has identified several genes linked to hearing. Some of these genes affect the inner ear environment and thus the function of sensory hair cells. For example, mutations in the transmembrane cochlear-expressed gene Connexin are the likely cause of deafness in two-thirds of people with hereditary hearing loss.
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Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answeredSee All 4 AnswersDo you think you're losing your hearing? First, ask yourself a couple of questions:- Do others complain you watch television with the volume too high?
- Do you frequently ask others to repeat themselves?
- Do you have difficulty understanding young children?
- Are you unable to understand when someone talks to you from another room?
If you do determine a difference, a doctor will want to see if it's being caused by excessive wax or fluid before determining it's some kind of age-related or noise-related hearing loss.
You can do a self-prescreening test on your hearing by calling (800) 222-3277. You'll listen to and count a series of computerized tones; after the test, you'll be told whether your hearing meets normal standards or whether you should seek further testing. -
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Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answeredA number of illnesses can lead to sensorineural hearing loss. Ear infections, Meniere's disease, brain tumors, congenital infections, and birth defects can all contribute to sensorineural hearing loss. Childhood diseases, like mumps and measles, can cause it, too. The use of certain antibiotics, like vancomycin, can make sensorineural hearing loss worse. Diseases such as leukodystrophy or multiple sclerosis that attack the myelin sheath, a covering that protects nerves, can contribute to hearing loss as well by interfering with nerve function. -
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HealthyWomen answeredMany people who would benefit from hearing aids live with hearing loss, even though treatment is available.
Many people are embarrassed or hesitant. Wearing a hearing aid carries a stigma, even though newer hearing aids are much less conspicuous and much more effective.
Money can be an obstacle, too. Hearing aids are expensive and not covered by most insurance or Medicare. It's not like eyeglasses, where you can get away with a cheap pair from a local pharmacy -- not even close. A good, custom-fitted, quality pair can run anywhere from $2,200 to over $7,000, with the average price falling between $4,400 and $4,500.
This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.