1 in 10 people have hearing loss, but that number is only part of the story. Family, friends, co-workers, etc. are all affected when communication is hampered by hearing loss, too. It’s a pervasive problem that touches everyone. As you look through these statistics on hearing loss, remember, these aren’t just numbers; they’re real people:

• 30% of people, 60 and over, suffer from hearing loss.
• Almost 15% of people between the ages of 41-59 struggle with hearing problems.
• Over 7% of adults 29-40 have already sustained some level of hearing loss.
• 1.4 million kids younger than 18 have hearing loss, and 3 out of every 1000 babies are born with profound hearing problems that can significantly impact their development.

There are real emotional, psychological, educational and even economic difficulties that are tied directly to hearing loss. But hearing loss doesn’t have to win. There are sound solutions to hearing loss that can bring better communication, better hearing and a better quality of life back to you.

Symptoms of Hearing Loss

Everyone mishears something now and then. And people do mumble from time to time. But when it seems like everyone is mumbling and you keep asking people to speak up more often, there could be a problem:

• Do you struggle to follow conversations in crowded rooms?
• Do you increasingly have to ask people to repeat themselves?
• Are you frustrated by how “everyone” seems to mumble?
• Do you have to crank the TV or car radio all the way up (to the point of annoying other people)?
• Are you struggling with telephone conversations?
• Are you frequently sleeping through your alarm clock?
• Have you noticed an increase in misunderstandings in your relationships?
• Do you strain to understand children’s voices?
• Do you struggle with tinnitus (constant ringing or roaring noises in your ears)?
• Is ear ringing keeping you from getting work done or enjoying life?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, call Hearing Health Solutions in Columbus today at 888-638-5095 to schedule an appointment for hearing tests. It is very likely that our audiologists can find you the right set of hearing aids or other hearing assistive devices that will bring great sounds back into your life.

What Causes Hearing Loss?

There are many reasons why a person may be struggling with hearing problems:

• Persistent exposure to loud noise
• Aging
• Genetics
• Certain medications
• Head injuries
• Disease
• Birth defects

Hearing tests can help us figure out why the world sounds so distant, and our audiologists can use this information to craft a hearing loss treatment plan that brings it back within hearing range.

What Types of Hearing Loss Are There?

The type of hearing loss you have impacts the type of hearing loss solutions we can recommend. While hearing aids and other devices can be a great help to many people with hearing problems, some patients may require a different approach.

Conductive—This type of hearing loss occurs when something prevents sound waves from being conducted properly through the ear. Examples of this kind of hearing loss include:

• Excessive ear wax accumulation or impaction
• Fluid in the middle ear (due to illness or allergies)
• Perforated ear drum
• Swimmers ear
• Ear infections
• Something stuck in the ear
• Deformation of some part of the ear structure

Sensorineural—Usually the most difficult to treat, the nerve pathways or tiny hairs inside the inner ear have been damaged or are missing due to:

• Drugs or medications that damage the hairs in the cochlea
• Disease or infection
• Genetics
• Aging
• Trauma
• Loud noises

Mixed—Both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss conditions are present simultaneously.

Central—The ability of the central nervous system to process incoming sounds has been damaged (often called an “auditory processing disorder”). Strokes, advanced age and other central nervous system complications can cause central hearing loss.

Hearing tests administered by our highly-trained audiologists can determine what type of hearing loss you have and how we can best treat it.

Hearing Aids and Other Sound Solutions

If you struggle with hearing problems, don’t be embarrassed. You are not alone, and our hearing center can help you improve your hearing and the quality of your life. Hearing Health Solutions has a team of talented, experienced audiologists in Columbus (in 6 convenient locations) who will listen to you and help you find a way to turn up the volume on life again. From all kinds of lightweight, small hearing devices, hidden hearing aids, nearly invisible hearing aids, in-ear hearing aids and behind-the-ear hearing aids, these high-tech hearing devices and other therapies can help you overcome even the most challenging forms of hearing loss.

Call for an appointment today at 888-638-5095!