Over 430 million people in the world require treatment to address their hearing loss. It is estimated that by 2050, 1 in every 10 people will have disabling hearing loss. Disabling hearing loss refers to hearing loss greater than 35 decibels. You can check if you have disabling hearing loss by undergoing a hearing test from an audiologist.
Causes of hearing loss
Hearing loss can be caused by genetics, aging, noise exposure, medical conditions and certain medications. Signs and symptoms of hearing loss:
•Experiencing difficulty in following conversations in the presence of background noise especially in parties, restaurants and crowded rooms.
•Asking others to repeat what they said or speak louder.
•Lip reading or looking for facial cues while others are speaking.
•Hearing muffled or distorted speech.
•Increasing the volume of tv or other personal devices.
•Can hear what others said but cannot understand.
•Feeling of fatigue after having social interactions.
•Feeling of blocked ears. •Experiencing tinnitus (ringing or buzzing sounds in the ear).
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Impact of hearing loss
Given below are the negative consequences of untreated hearing loss:
•Effects speech and communication
•Causes social isolation, loneliness and stigma
 •Decline in cognition (process of acquiring knowledge and understanding thought process)
•Effects employment and self-esteem
•Increases the risk of dementia
 •Impacts overall quality of life
Hearing loss treatment
Hearing loss treatment depends upon its cause. Hearing loss due to infections are treated with medications. Some types of hearing loss are treated with surgery. If the hearing loss is permanent, it is most often treated with the help of hearing aids. Hearing aids are electronic devices that amplify the sounds and direct them into the ear canal. Unlike the hearing aids of olden days, today’s hearing technology is advanced, sleek, smart and also come in invisible hearing aid styles. After a thorough evaluation, the audiologist will recommend the best possible hearing technology that suits your hearing loss and personal listening needs. Cochlear implant is an electronic device that is surgically implanted in the inner ear to stimulate the auditory nerve. Cochlear implants can help people with hearing loss that cannot be treated with even the most powerful hearing aids.
If you have trouble finding the appropriate hearing aids that best suit your hearing loss, visit the audiologist at Transcend Audiology to find individualized hearing loss treatment from the best hearing aid brands.
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