Taking steps to care for your hearing is the best way to address future hearing loss. Whether your job has you immersed in loud environments, you enjoy attending concerts or you are experiencing the aging process, your hearing health will require some extra attention. It’s common for people to have a variety of hearing screenings in their lives, typically starting at birth and then occasionally during their primary school years. However, once you enter adulthood it’s suggested to have one conducted once a decade under the age of 50, and around every two to three years for those older than this.
Catching the signs of hearing loss early can improve treatment quality and allow those experiencing it to continue living the life they’re used to. Plus, the more you know now about hearing loss, the earlier you’ll be able to recognize it.
If you’re curious about the causes and symptoms of hearing loss, and what can be done to help maintain your current level of hearing, here are the main things to keep in mind.
The Causes of Hearing Loss
There are many causes of hearing loss in daily life. There are three types of hearing loss and these factors can feed into each of them – the three types are as follows:
- Conductive: Affecting the outer and middle ear
- Sensorineural: Affecting the inner ear alone
- Mixed: Affecting potentially all three areas of the ear, or at least more than one area
Damage to hearing levels can occur at various points throughout life. It’s likely to occur when a person is older, due to relatively normal aging related hearing loss, often known as presbycusis. However, younger people and children can experience lowered hearing thanks to causes like these:
- Consistent loud noise, often as a result of working in a loud environment
- Experiencing chronic ear infections, often worsening over time
- An unhealthy lifestyle, including habits such as smoking
- Head trauma at any point in life
Being aware of these causes can help you to recognize symptoms and adapt to best hearing health behavior.
Common Hearing Loss Symptoms
The symptoms of hearing loss, once again, can vary from person to person. Generally, difficulties with hearing will first present in a home environment, then move to the workplace, and then when someone is out and about. If you notice any of these, it could be a sign your current level of hearing has been altered:
- Finding it difficult to hear others in close conversation
- Turning up the TV to an unusually loud level
- Needing people to constantly repeat themselves
- Becoming exhausted from focusing during a conversation
- Losing your spot while talking in a group
It’s very common for those around someone with hearing loss to notice it before they do. What might seem like totally normal behavior to you can seem unusual to other people, especially when it comes to needing TVs and music players at a higher sound level.
Similarly, if you talk to the same people on a regular basis, they may notice you having trouble keeping up during a conversation and point this out later on in private.
Look After Your Hearing Health
Looking after your hearing is the best way to address hearing loss – preventative care is usually the best form of treatment. However, items like hearing aids can be used very effectively to allow someone a more typical level of hearing than they currently have.
The main thing you can do is to actively observe your hearing and make sure you visit an audiologist if you notice any beginning symptoms of hearing loss, like asking others to repeat themselves frequently, turning up the volume on the television or radio and struggling to hear conversations over the phone.
Book an Appointment with Hearing Solutions of Louisiana
Addressing hearing loss doesn’t need to be a difficult task. If you want to get tested and find out your current hearing level, you’re well within your right to do so. Maintaining your overall health and wellbeing includes your five senses, and access to hearing care is something we specialize in. You just need to get in touch for a consultation!
So, if you want to make your hearing health a priority, book an appointment with an experienced audiologist at Hearing Solutions of Louisiana. You can visit us online to schedule your hearing test, or if you’d rather, simply call us at (337) 607-0630 and talk directly with one of our friendly team members.
