Family Doctor 2007 - (Page 228) seniors HEARING PROBLEMS ‘Would you repeat that, please?’ Hearing loss can cut you off from the world around you. Fortunately, many tools are available to help. By Sarah J. West ● You need to turn up the volume on the television, radio or phone, and others complain that you turn the volume too high. ● You have trouble understanding what people are saying, especially if you can’t see their mouths when they talk or other people around you are talking. ● Background noise makes hearing even more difficult. Q. Can ear infections cause hearing loss? A. While ear infections can lead to hearing loss, this usually doesn’t happen if the infection is treated and resolved. However, a slight hearing loss for several weeks may follow an infection. Follow up with your doctor to ensure these infections don’t lead to permanent hearing loss. of company: Nearly 30 million Americans face this challenge. But solutions are available to help you cope in a hearing world. Below are answers to some questions you may have about hearing problems. H earing loss can be devastating and can lead to frustration, misunderstandings, embarrassment and even isolation. If you’re struggling with hearing loss, you have a lot Q. What tests are used to check hearing? A. Your family doctor may carefully examine your ears and perform simple hearing tests, or refer you to an audiologist (hearing specialist) for testing. These tests, which are painless, will measure how well you hear sounds at different pitches and volumes. Q. What causes hearing loss? A. One type of hearing loss, called conductive hearing loss, occurs when sound waves are blocked from reaching the inner ear. Many things can cause this, including buildup of earwax, fluid behind the eardrum in the middle ear or a punctured eardrum. Hearing loss also can occur when the inner ear or auditory nerve is damaged. This can occur over time with age (called presbycusis). Contributing factors include heredity, infections and certain illnesses. The inner ear can also be damaged by noise, either loud noise or lower levels of noise over long periods. This type of hearing loss is called noise-induced hearing loss. Q. What treatments can help? A. Hearing loss that occurs when sound waves cannot reach the inner ear can usually be relieved with treatment. The specific treatment depends on the cause and may range from removing earwax to taking antibiotics (for an infection) to having surgery (to repair a punctured eardrum). Hearing loss that is due to age may not be reversible. However, hearing aids can be of tremendous benefit. Other devices also can be helpful. Some examples include equipment designed specifically to help people hear better when talking on the phone, watching television or listening to music. Cochlear implants, which are tiny devices surgically placed under the skin behind the ear, can help people who are deaf or who have severe hearing loss. Cochlear implants change sounds to electrical signals and send those signals to the brain, bypassing damaged parts of the inner ear. Sarah J. West is editorial director and vice president of Source Publications in Tulsa, Okla. recommends Try to avoid exposure to noise 90 decibels or louder. Here’s a sampling of such noises: ■ motorcycles. ■ firecrackers. ■ loud music. ■ gas-powered lawnmowers and other machinery. ■ gun shots. If you must be exposed to loud noise, stay as far away from the source of the sound as possible, limit the amount of time you’re exposed and wear earplugs. Q. What’s that ringing in my ears? A. It’s called tinnitus, and it often goes along with hearing problems. Tinnitus can occur after exposure to a loud noise. It can also be caused by certain medicines or by health problems. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org/226.xml American Academy of Audiology http://www.audiology.org National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders http://www.nidcd.nih.gov American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/index.cfm American Speech-Language-Hearing Association http://www.asha.org/public Q. What are the signs that hearing loss has occurred? A. Hearing loss can be abrupt if caused by an explosion or other loud sound, or it can sneak up on you gradually. Signs include: ● Sounds are muffled. 228 familydoctor 2007 http://familydoctor.org/226.xml http://www.audiology.org http://www.nidcd.nih.gov http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/index.cfm http://www.asha.org/public
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