Hearing Loss
There are many reasons why hearing loss occurs. While often associated with aging, hearing loss can happen at any time throughout life because of infection, illness, injury, or birth defect. The most common causes occur from exposure to loud noise. The good news is that hearing aids can provide a solution in most cases, so you can continue to experience the sounds that make experiencing life that much better.
Age-related hearing loss
As we get older, daily wear and tear takes a toll on the hearing system. The most common signs of hearing loss are difficulty hearing conversations when there’s background noise and hearing soft voices.
Noise-induced hearing loss
Repeated, regular exposure to loud noises will accelerate hearing loss, which is why it’s so important to protect your ears properly. Workers in the following professions are more vulnerable to hearing loss and should wear proper hearing protection:
- Military
- Policing
- Construction
- Farming
- Dentistry
- Warehouse and factories
And if you are (or were) a concertgoer or listener to excessively loud music, these too can have permanent impact on hearing. Taking preventative measures when it comes to your hearing is the best thing you can do to protect your ear health.
When to have a hearing test
It’s important to take care of your ears, just like you do your eyes and the rest of your body. At the first signs of hearing loss, it’s imperative that you get tested because the later you address it, the higher the risk of serious consequences.
Most hearing loss signs occur after the age of 50, so we recommend you start having an annual hearing check then, especially if you have been exposed to loud noises over the years. This first hearing test will set the baseline for future monitoring. Gradual onset hearing loss is not often recognized initially but becomes noticeable when subsequent signs accumulate. If your partner, relatives, or friends start making comments to you about your hearing, then it’s in your best interest to take their concerns seriously and schedule a test.
Signs of Hearing Loss
Do you...
- hear mumbling or people speaking softly/not clearly?
- have difficulty hearing conversations in crowded places?
- need to increase the volume of the TV or do people tell you it’s too loud?
- struggle to hear what’s being said while talking on the phone?
- find yourself asking people to repeat what they’ve said?
- find yourself reading lips to understand/confirm what is being said?
- hear that people are talking but miss the ends of words?
- have ringing, buzzing or other noises in your ear(s) that last longer than a few seconds?
- notice that you’re missing everyday sounds, like birds chirping, footsteps
If you have checked three or more of these boxes, then we recommend you take our online hearing test now.
