Hearing Loss
We have solutions for your hearing related concerns.
Hearing Health Education
Hearing loss is incredibly common, affecting over 48 million Americans. However, it is still a widely misunderstood topic. Here are some statistics to consider:
- 1 in 8 people in the U.S. aged 12 years and older has hearing loss in both ears
- The prevalence of hearing loss is typically lower in women than in men
- The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age
- Roughly 1 in 3 people between the ages of 65 and 74 reports hearing loss
- Nearly half of those older than 75 report at least some difficult hearing
Hearing and Brain Health
Hearing loss can have detrimental effects on your overall health and well-being when left untreated. Hearing loss may seem to only affect your ability to hear sounds, but it can affect your ability to effectively communicate and process information. This is because we don’t actually hear with our ears, we “hear” with our brain. Sound signals travel through your ear up into the auditory cortex of the brain. In the brain is where sound is processed into information and made into meaning.
When left untreated, hearing loss can lead to serious health conditions, such as cognitive decline, depression, and even dementia. Studies have proven that individuals with untreated hearing loss have a greater risk of developing dementia over time compared to those who wear hearing aids. Don’t let hearing loss have a negative impact on your mental health and brain function, visit us to discover how we can help you live a life filled with better hearing and better communication.
Signs of Hearing Loss
There are three main types of hearing loss, each affecting a different section of the ear. The three types are conductive, sensorineural, and mixed. Our hearing specialist can perform a hearing check and diagnose you with the exact type and degree of hearing loss you have.
The most common type of hearing loss is sensorineural and the signs include:
- It seems like people mumble
- You can hear but you lack clarity
- It’s difficult to hear when there is background noise
- Women and children’s voices are harder to hear
- You turn the volume on the TV or radio louder than people like
- You hear a ringing in your ears (tinnitus)
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is the medical explanation for hearing a sound in your ears that is not coming from outside, such as a ringing, buzzing, hissing, or roaring. About 50 million people in the U.S. experience tinnitus to some degree, with some people hearing the phantom sounds on a permanent basis.
There is unfortunately no known cure for tinnitus. However, research from the American Tinnitus Association suggests that sound therapy or maskers can offer relief. At our hearing center, we offer tinnitus masking hearing aids that can distract your brain from the symptoms of tinnitus. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you experience relief from ringing in the ears.