Signs You May Be Suffering From Hearing Loss

It is always a good idea to practice hearing loss prevention techniques, but hearing loss can still sneak up on you. If you experience any of the signs noted below, you should see a hearing specialist.

• Difficulty hearing on the telephone
• Trouble hearing birds, wind, alarms/bells, women, and children
• Turning the TV volume too high for others
• Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
• Trouble hearing words or music when there is background noise
• Difficulty following conversations in groups
• Feeling that many people mumble
• Misunderstanding words and responding inappropriately, or nodding/smiling when you haven’t really understood what was said
• Frequent ringing, roaring, or hissing in the ears

Reasons For Hearing Loss

Most often a hearing loss develops gradually and painlessly. There is also a strong relationship between age and reported hearing loss: 18 percent of adults age 45 to 64, 30 percent of adults age 65 to 74, and 47 percent of adults age 75 and older have a hearing impairment. That's almost one in every two adults in America! However, hearing loss can occur for many other reasons including:

• Exposure to loud or constant noise
• Genetics / Heredity
• Diseases and disorders of the ear
• Traumatic injury
• Ototoxic medications
• Tumors

Preventing Hearing Loss

Even though some hearing loss is unavoidable as it comes with time and age, there are some steps that can be taken to help prevent further hearing loss. Here are some examples of hearing loss preventative measures you can take at work or home:

• Avoid prolonged noise exposure.
• Wear earplugs during "loud" activities like lawn mowing, concerts, hunting, construction, etc.
• Be careful with headphone volume. If possible, use noise-reducing headphones.
• Ask your doctor if any of your medications could be ototoxic.
• Especially if you are over the age of 50, schedule a yearly hearing test.

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