What you need to know about Hearing Impairment

Sometimes we take our hearing for granted. As they say, you don’t really miss something until it’s gone. Our hearing helps us to understand our world, connect with our fellow humans, and listen to those sweet songs.   Our beloved hearing helps to keep us safe (think speeding cars and barking dogs), and of course, hear that poor cat meowing to be let inside.

What is Normal Hearing?

Hearing levels can be defined using the terms decibels (dB) and Hertz (Hz).

Decibels measure the loudness of a sound. The higher the dB, the louder the sound. The lower the dB, the quieter the sound is.

Hertz (Hz) is used to measure the frequency or tone that a particular sound has.

The higher the Hz, the higher the frequency of the sound. One example of a high-frequency sound is that of a car alarm.  Thunder is an example of a sound with a much lower frequency or tone.

Being able to easily hear sounds within the 20-2000 Hz frequency range is considered normal hearing.

Hearing loss or Impaired Hearing

When a person is not able to hear sounds within this frequency range, they are considered to have some hearing impairment.  There are degrees of hearing loss, from being slightly hard of hearing to complete deafness.

What are the Common Signs of Hearing Loss?

Watch out for these red flags which could signal you or your loved one needs to have your hearing checked out.

If you live alone, watching out for these signs is especially important. This is because you are not able to get any helpful feedback from housemates (such as turn down the TV – please).

• You are turning up your music and TV a lot.
• You are having trouble hearing conversations, especially when in a crowded room.
• You are often asking others to speak up or repeat themselves.
• You can hear a high-pitched ringing in your ears (tinnitus), especially when it is quiet.
• Noise can sound muffled like you are underwater.
• You feel a fullness or pressure inside your ears.
• Your ear(s) feel painful or uncomfortable.
• You sometimes feel dizzy or off-balance.
 

 

 

If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to get yourself to a doctor or healthcare provider. They will work to find the cause of your hearing loss, and then on finding a solution.

 

 

 

As you button up your coat to head over to see your doctor, you could be wondering – what could be the cause of my hearing loss?

Reasons for Hearing Loss

There are many different causes of hearing loss, but these are the most common.

Age-related Hearing Loss (ARHL)

• ARHL is the slow decline in hearing ability common with aging.
• 1 in 3 people over 65 years old have some degree of hearing loss.
• Sometimes it is hard to catch this problem because hearing often declines slowly as we age; as well, it often occurs in both ears at the same time.

Congenital (hereditary)

• Congenital hearing loss is something a person is born with.
• Congenital hearing loss can be caused by a birth defect, which can change the structures within the ear that are needed for hearing normally.
• Maternal Infections (example: COVID-19 virus- if the mother is infected with this virus during pregnancy – this could interfere with the normal development of the baby’s hearing).
• Congenital hearing loss can be caused by different inherited genetic conditions – there are more than 400.

Infection

• An infection of the middle ear is caused when pathogens (bacteria and/or viruses) overwhelm the body’s immune system and interfere with the ability to hear normally.
• Although anyone can get an ear infection, they are quite common in babies and young children.
• According to the National Institute of Health, 5 out of 6 children will have an ear infection before their 3^rd
• This is primarily because children have a decreased immunity (compared to adults) and because their ear canals are smaller than adults – which makes it easier for fluid to build up behind the eardrum, setting the stage for an infection to begin.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)

• NIHL is caused when exposed to very loud sounds, which can then damage the delicate inner structures of the ear. NIHL can happen suddenly, for example, while standing close to fireworks when they go off.
• NIHL can also occur over an extended period. For example, while working in a factory around loud machines (over 85 dB), and not wearing proper hearing protection.

 

Wax buildup (cerumen)

• This is when the wax inside your ear canals has built up, to the point that hearing is affected, and you have difficulty hearing out of the plugged ear(s).

Medical conditions

These medical conditions can affect your hearing.

• Alzheimer’s (a form of dementia)
• Childhood diseases – measles, mumps, varicella zoster virus (chickenpox), and rubella (German measles).
• West Nile Virus(WNV)
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Diabetes

Medications  

These are the most common medications that may affect your hearing:

• Pain killers – NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs); examples are ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin.
• Antibiotics – aminoglycosides (a group of antibiotics used to treat serious infections)
• Loop Diuretics (example: Lasix) used to treat fluid retention
• Chemotherapy drugs – these are drugs commonly used in the treatment of cancer.
 

 

 

Educating yourself on the common reasons for hearing loss can help you understand the diagnosis and treatment given by your healthcare provider.  So, what now?

 

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Your healthcare provider will assess and diagnose the type of hearing loss you have. Then they will decide on the best treatment.

Basic Assessment

This is where the doctor or healthcare provider puts on their detective hat. They are working to uncover the reasons for your hearing loss.  To help them to do this, your doctor will very likely:

• Check inside your ears with an instrument called an otoscope.
• The otoscope can be used to see if there is too much wax in your ear canal, whether your eardrum is normal (not injured), and if there is any redness, swelling, or discharge.
• Perform a hearing test. The audiometry test and whisper test are often given.
• Order a blood test to be done if an infection is suspected or more information is needed for a diagnosis to be made.
• You could be sent to an audiologist (hearing doctor) who specializes in finding solutions to hearing problems.

Diagnosis

Once your healthcare provider has enough information to understand the cause of your hearing loss, then they will work towards finding the best solution for you.

Plan

Just like every person is different, every plan to restore or protect your hearing will be as well. Some treatments will be simple and straightforward (such as flushing the wax out of your ears). Some treatments will be more complex and take time (such as taking antibiotics to clear up an infection).

 

Takeaways

Your hearing is valuable to your overall health and well-being.

Know the signs of hearing impairment.

Get medical help if you suspect hearing loss.

Understand the different causes of hearing impairment.

It is important to protect your hearing to prevent further hearing loss. 

No matter what the cause of your hearing loss, a solution can be found with the support and guidance of your healthcare provider.