HAVE THE BIRDS STOPPED
SINGING?
Approximately one in five people between the ages of 40 and
60 suffer from some degree of hearing loss. Surprisingly, many
of these people simply aren't aware of the problem - or attribute
their difficulties to some other cause.
If you haven't heard the birds singing for a while, you may
have a hearing loss. Of course, you might think it's not severe
enough to worry about. But however mild your hearing loss
might be, you'll find that your life will greatly improve by
doing something about the problem.
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This booklet can help you find
out whether your hearing is
affected, and explains what to
do if you suspect a loss.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN EVERYDAY SOUNDS START DISAPPEARING?
WHAT DOES
IT MEAN TO
HAVE A
HEARING LOSS?
A hearing loss can mean many things: not
hearing the doorbell ring, missing key information
at a meeting, losing the thread of
conversation at a dinner party. It can mean
missing out on countless sounds - the rustle
of leaves, the singing of birds, a child's whisper
- that give pleasure and meaning to life.
Helen Keller* may have said it best: "Loss of
vision means losing contact with things, but
loss of hearing means losing contact with
people."
But help is at hand. Hearing instrument
technology has advanced rapidly over the
last few years. Modern instruments contain a
range of high-tech features that can help you
understand speech better and which will
make your listening experience much more
comfortable.
*Helen Adams Keller (1880-1968), the
internationally celebrated author and advocate
for disabled people, who was both deaf
and blind.
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DO YOU HAVE A
HEARING LOSS?
1. Do you sometimes miss everyday sounds others hear, such
as birds singing?
2. Do you often ask for words to be repeated?
3. Do you often turn up the TV or radio louder than others
like?
4. Do people often sound as though they’re mumbling
(or does speech sound muffled)?
5. Do you hear ringing in your ears?
6. Do you need to ask others about the details of a meeting
you’ve just attended?
7. Do you have trouble hearing over the phone?
8. Do you find it difficult to follow conversation in a noisy
restaurant or crowded room?
9. Have you had significant noise exposure at work?
10. Do you sometimes fail to hear the ring of the doorbell or
telephone?
11. Do you find male voices easier to understand than those of
women?
How do you find out whether you have a hearing loss? Your
answers to the questions below may be a helpful indicator:
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If you answered yes to any of
these questions, you may have
some degree of hearing loss.
To find out for sure, we
encourage you to contact a
hearing care professional for
a proper hearing test.
WHY DOES
HEARING
DETERIORATES
?
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There are many kinds of hearing loss, but most fall into two
categories: "sensorineural" and "conductive".
Ninety percent of permanent hearing losses are sensorineural.
The term refers to deterioration of the tiny, delicate sensory
cells called "hair cells" that line the inner ear. These cells are
vibrated by sound waves reaching the inner ear, and pass the
pattern of these vibrations on to the brain via the hearing
nerve. The brain interprets these patterns as sound. While
sensorineural loss is often a natural part of aging, it can also
be caused by exposure to noise, head injury, certain infections
or medical treatments, or it can simply be genetic.
Sensorineural loss cannot be corrected medically.
Hearing losses can also be conductive. This type of hearing
loss involves an obstruction to sound waves reaching the inner
ear. The problem lies in the ear canal or the middle ear, where
three tiny bones conduct sound waves to the inner ear.
Accumulation of earwax, perforation of the eardrum, accumulation
of fluid in the middle ear, or abnormal bone growth
in the middle ear (otosclerosis) are some causes of conductive
loss, which can often be corrected medically.
Hearing losses can also be a combination of sensorineural and
conductive types.
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If you have a sensorineural loss, you can still hear. But you are
unable to hear the full range of sound, both in terms of pitch
and loudness. Often, high-pitched soft sounds such as birds
singing are diminished or lost all together. The loss of other
high-pitched sounds, such as the "s" sound in speech, can
hurt speech understanding. To complicate matters further, a
person with hearing loss may experience loud sounds, such as
someone shouting or tires screeching, as loudly as someone
with normal hearing.
Fortunately, most sensorineural losses can be improved with
hearing instruments, which allow you to capture many
sounds that would otherwise be lost. As a result, speech
understanding most often improves, and the sense of growing
isolation fostered by hearing loss may in many cases be
checked or reversed.
Studies have shown that adults who wear hearing instruments
often see significant improvements in many aspects of their
lives, including self-esteem, relationships, and a more rewarding
social life.
WHAT CAN
BE DONE
ABOUT SENSORINEURAL LOSS?
> HEARING INSTRUMENTS HAVE
COME A LONG WAY
Today's hearing instruments are highly
advanced - and can be very discreet.
Their digital technology can be precisely
tailored to your particular needs. Some
models are so small they can be virtually
hidden within or behind the ear.
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The first step is to see a hearing care professional and get a
hearing test. If you have a conductive loss, you'll be referred
to an ENT doctor (otorhinolaryngologist) for further treatment.
If you have a sensorineural loss, you'll be advised which
kind of hearing instrument would best suit your needs,
whether you'll need one or two instruments, and how to get
the most benefit from them.
The road to better hearing begins with an audiological evaluation
for diagnosis. This is followed by the selection and fitting
of hearing instruments, and finally a period of adjustment.
The more you know about this process the better the
results, so read as much on the subject as possible.
WHERE TO GO FOR HELP
Easier communication may be
just a step away. And by taking
action as soon as possible, you
can markedly improve the ease
of communication and quality
of life for yourself and for your
family, friends and colleagues,
who will find speaking with you
much less of a strain.
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ACT
NOW
!
M100367-GB-04.08 Rev. A