"Approximately one year ago I received hearing aids.  My life has improved since I can now hear better and that helps a lot.  Thanks for my hearing that I now have and enjoy."

Fred L., Roswell, NM

Hearing Loss

People with hearing loss are often embarrassed because they think that they are different or that they have a rare condition.  The last MarkeTrak survey (2004) estimated that 31.5 million people report a hearing difficulty; that is around 10% of the U.S. population.  So if you have hearing loss, understand that you are not alone.  

Here are some general guidelines regarding the incidence of hearing loss:

  • 3 in 10 people over age 60 have hearing loss
  • 1 in 6 baby boomers (ages 41-59), or 14.6% have a hearing problem
  • 1 in 14 Generation Xers (ages 19-40), or 7.4% already have a hearing loss
  • At least 1.4 million children (18 or younger) have hearing problems

A Common Myth of Hearing Loss
“If I had a hearing loss, my family doctor would have told me.”

Not true!  Only 13% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical.  Since most people with hearing impairments hear well in a quiet environment like a doctor’s office, it can be virtually impossible for your physician to recognize the extent of your problem.  Without special training, and an understanding of the nature of hearing loss, it may be difficult for your doctor to even realize that you have a hearing problem. 

SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS

The signs of hearing loss can be subtle and emerge slowly, or they can be significant and come on suddenly.  Either way, there are common indications.  You should suspect hearing loss if you experience any of the signs below.

You might have hearing loss if you…

SOCIALLY

  • Require frequent repetition.
  • Have difficulty following conversations involving more than 2 people.
  • Think that other people sound muffled or like they’re mumbling.
  • Have difficulty hearing in noisy situations, like conferences, restaurants, malls or crowded
  • meeting rooms.
  • Have trouble hearing children or women.
  • Have your TV or radio turned up to a high volume.
  • Answer or respond inappropriately in conversations.
  • Have ringing in your ears.
  • Read lips or more intently watch people’s faces when they speak with you.

EMOTIONALLY

  • Feel stressed out from straining to hear what others are saying.
  • Feel annoyed at other people because you can’t hear or understand them.
  • Feel embarrassed to meet new people or from misunderstanding what others are saying.
  • Feel nervous about trying to hear and understand.
  • Withdraw from social situations that you once enjoyed because of difficulty hearing.  

MEDICALLY

  • Have a family history of hearing loss.
  • Take medications that can harm the hearing system (ototoxic drugs).
  • Have diabetes, heart, circulation or thyroid problems.
  • Have been exposed to very loud sounds over a long period or single exposure to explosive noise.  

Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a very common condition.  Tinnitus is the perception of sound within the ear in the absence of corresponding external sound.  Tinnitus can be perceived in one or both ears or in the head. It is usually described as a ringing noise, but in some patients it takes the form of a high pitched whining, buzzing, hissing, humming, or whistling sound, or as ticking, clicking, roaring, "crickets" or "tree frogs" or "locusts", tunes, songs, or beeping.  It has also been described as a "wooshing" sound, as of wind or waves.  Tinnitus can be intermittent or it can be continuous. In the latter case, this "phantom" sound can create great distress in the sufferer.

Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss happens when there is a problem conducting sound waves through the outer ear, eardrum or middle ear and the inner ear.  This type of hearing loss may occur in conjunction with sensorineural hearing loss or alone.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensory hearing loss (also called sensorineural hearing loss) may also result from abnormalities of the hearing nerve.  Most sensory hearing loss is due to poor hair cell function. The hair cells may be abnormal at birth, or damaged during the lifetime of an individual. There are both external causes of damage, like exposure to noise or infection, and intrinsic abnormalities, like deafness genes.  This type of hearing loss can also be caused by prolonged exposure to very loud noise. For example, wearing headphones on full blast for a few hours.

Mixed Loss
This is combination of a conductive loss and a sensorineural loss.  

Communication Disorder
Communication involves both an active speaker and listener.  The lack of communication due to hearing loss can result in a feeling of isolation and/or loneliness.  A simple hearing assessment can determine your type of hearing loss and how to improve your communication skills.