More than 50 million Americans have hearing loss. While this condition is often viewed as an inevitable part of aging, around 60% of people with hearing loss are below retirement age.
Fortunately, nearly all types of hearing loss are treatable by an audiologist, and this October’s Audiology Awareness Month is the perfect time to focus on your hearing health and encourage others to do the same. The goal of this national month-long observance is to raise awareness of audiology and the importance of hearing protection in preventing hearing loss.
Causes and Symptoms of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be caused by a variety of factors, including noise exposure, age, diseases of the inner and middle ear, ear infections, excess earwax and certain medications. It can happen so gradually that you may not be aware of a problem until it has reached an advanced stage.
Signs and symptoms of hearing loss include:
- Difficulty understanding others when they speak (speech may appear to be muffled or garbled)
- Asking speakers to frequently repeat what they have said
- An inability to distinguish speech from distracting background sounds
- Turning up the TV volume to levels that others find too loud
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
How Audiologists Can Help
Audiologists are licensed and certified professionals with advanced degrees in the hearing and balance sciences. They evaluate, diagnose and treat hearing and balance disorders in children and adults; prescribe, fit and dispense hearing devices; and provide hearing rehabilitation training and counseling to patients and their families.
They may also treat individuals with tinnitus and central auditory processing disorders, and they are often involved in developing hearing conservation programs and newborn hearing screenings. Audiologists work in hospitals, clinics, ENT offices, universities, schools, government, military or Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals.
Our HearWell Program
At Hearing Wellness Center, we want to reconnect you with your world and improve your quality of life, which is why we offer our very own HearWell™ program. HearWell can be customized to your unique needs and may include hearing technology, hearing protection and listening and lifestyle coaching to optimize your investment in your hearing health.
Your hearing is crucial to your well-being. If you are committed to taking care of your hearing health, contact Hearing Wellness Center today for a comprehensive hearing evaluation.