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FAQ on
Hearing Loss
What causes hearing loss?
There are many possible causes of hearing loss including:
- Aging
- Genetics
- Noise
- Trauma to the head
- Infection
- Meniere's Disease
- Tumors
- Otosclerosis
- Congenital Disorders
- Physical blockage
If you think you have a hearing loss, you should see an Ear, Nose, and Throat
doctor, commonly referred to an an ENT, for a hearing test to determine the
cause and whether or not it is permanent or temporary. 28 million
Americans - 1 out of every 10 people have a hearing loss. You are not
alone!
After your hearing test, the doctor will advise you on whether or not you
should consider hearing aids. The doctor will then refer you to an
audiologist for a hearing aid fitting.
To read a more complete discussion on causes of hearing loss from the
Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Reseach Center, click
here.
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What are the warning signs?
Some warning signs include:
- Asking people to repeat themselves
- Missing large parts of conversations when there is a lot of background
noise
- Finding it hard to understand dialogue at the movies or the theater
- Complaining that people around you are mumbling when they speak
- Inability to hear common sounds like doorbells or alarm clocks
If you think you have a hearing loss, take the 5
minute hearing test developed by the American Academy of Otoloaryngology -
Head and Neck Surgery.
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How do I find a good audiologist?
The American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), the certifying
organization for audiologists, can provide you with names of certified
audiologists in your area. A list of these audiologists can be found by
clicking here.
During your first visit, determine whether or not you are comfortable with this
person. Much like when you select your primary care physician, you need to
feel that you trust the person and that you have good rapport. If not, try
someone else. This will be a long term relationship, so be sure you are
comfortable with the person from the start.
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What is the difference between
audiologists and hearing aid dispensers?
Audiologists are health care professionals with a minimum level
of education of a master's degree. They are certified by the American
Speech Language Hearing Association. The letters CCC (Certificate of
Clinical Competence) follow the names of qualified audiologists and the CCC-A
indicates certification in the fields of audiology.
In contrast, hearing aid dispensers are not required to have a
college degree. They have some training in the measurement and
interpretation of hearing tests and are licensed by their State to sell and
service hearing aids. Some dispensers do receive certification from the
National Board for Certification of Hearing Instrument Sciences, indicated by
the letters BC-HIS. In order to be certified, they must attend continuing
education courses and successfully pass a national examination.
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Which hearing aids are the
best?
An audiologist will recommend a hearing aid based on the circumstances of
your individual situation which includes consideration of your type of hearing
loss, the severity of your hearing loss, conditions under which you work or
live, and affordability for you. There is no simple way in advance to tell
which hearing aid is best for a person - what might be appropriate for one
person may not be appropriate for another. This is why hearing aids that
are sold through mail order catalogs or on-line may be ineffective or even
harmful.
Unfortunately, many people when buying hearing aids look for the cheapest
alternative. When price is the main deciding factor, it is too often that
an ineffective aid will be chosen. When this happens, the hearing aid
often ends up in a drawer unused. Get fitted properly and don't let price
be your sole consideration. Get in
touch with one of our members who can share with you his/her experience of
getting hearing aids.
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What is a cochlear implant?
A cochlear implant is an electronic device designed to bypass the external
and middle ear and excite the auditory nerve directly. It is implanted in
the cochlea; and by stimulating auditory nerve fibers, patterns of nerve
activity occur which the brain interprets as sound. Cochlear implants are
the hearing solution for people with severe to profound hearing loss in both
ears. For a complete description of how cochlear implants work, click
here.
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How can I get help for ringing in my ears?
This is called tinnitus. Tinnitus can be described as
"ringing" ears or the sound of other head noises that are perceived in
the absence of any external noise source. It is estimated that 1 out of every 5
people experience some degree of tinnitus. Tinnitus is not a disease
but a symptom of an underlying condition. There are many causes of
tinnitus, such as wax against the ear drum, middle ear infections, otosclerosis
(fixation of the stapes or stirrup bone), presbycusis (hearing loss with age),
Meniere's syndrome (a problem affecting both the hearing and balance), and
acoustic neuroma (small, rare tumor of the acoustic nerve). It can also be
caused by exposure to loud sounds such as shooting, chain saws, rock concerts,
etc.
To learn more about this condition from the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing
Research Center, click
here. Or visit the American Tinnitus
Society.
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My doctor tells me I have an acoustic neuroma.
Where can I get information on this?
An acoustic neuroma is a growth - a benign tumor - which occurs on the
auditory nerve. As it grows larger, it impinges on the nerve conduction
and hearing is lost permanently. Some tumors grow very slowly and others
grow rapidly. For more information from the Acoustic Neuroma
Association, click here, or visit the
webpage of the Seattle Acoustic
Neuroma Group.
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What is Meniere's Disease?
In 1861, French physician Prosper Meniere described a condition that now
bears his name. Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes
episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear, and
fluctuating hearing loss. A typical attack of Meniere's disease may be
preceded by fullness or aching in one or both ears. Hearing fluctuation or
tinnitus (ringing or sounds in the ears) may also precede an attack. A Meniere's
episode generally involves severe vertigo (spinning), imbalance, nausea, and
vomiting. The average attack lasts two to four hours. After a severe attack,
most people find that they are extremely exhausted and must sleep for several
hours.
The cause of Meniere's Disease is unknown; but possible contributors are
stress, excessive salt intake, and occasionally, endocrine problems, such as low
thyroid function, abnormal glucose (sugar) metabolism, or an inability to handle
fats (high cholesterol and/or triglycerides.)
To learn more about this condition from the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing
Research Center of the University of Washington, click
here.
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How does exposure to noise affect hearing? When
should I protect my ears?
Exposure to noise is damaging to hearing. The longer you are exposed to
a loud noise, the more damaging it may be. The closer you are to the
source of intense noise, the more damaging it is. Some common noise
levels:
Decibels (dB):
-
Shotgun
blast 140
-
Jet
Takeoff
130
-
Rock
concerts
120
-
Portable
stereo
95
-
Electric
blender
90
-
Baby
screaming
80
-
Vacuum
cleaner
75
-
Normal
conversation 60
-
Quiet
library
50
-
Whisper
30
Maximum exposure before damage
occurs:
-
8
hours
90
-
4
hours
95
-
2
hours
100
-
1
hour
105
Any exposure to noise above 105 can have an immediate damaging effect, but
will vary with individual susceptibility. There is no way to restore life
to dead nerve endings; the damage is permanent, so protect yourself with
earplugs when necessary.
To read more about noise induced hearing loss, click
here for an article from SHHH's Hearing Loss Journal.
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Why do my ears plug up when I am on an airplane?
The middle ear is an air pocket that is vulnerable to changes in air
pressure. Normally, each time you swallow, a small bubble of air enters
your middle ear from the back of your nose. It enters the middle ear
through the Eustachian tube, a membrane-lined tube about the size of a pencil
lead. The air is constantly being absorbed by the membranous lining of the
middle ear, being re-supplied through the Eustachian tube during the process of
swallowing. In this manner air pressure on both sides of the ear drum
stays about equal. If, and when, the air pressure is not equal, the ear
feels blocked.
Altitude changes require the Eustachian tube to open frequently and widely
enough to equalize the changes in pressure. The act of swallowing
activates the muscle that opens the Eustachian tube. If you chew gum or
let mints melt in your mouth, you will swallow more often, thus activating the
muscle. Yawning is an even stronger activator of that muscle. During
air travel avoid sleeping during descent, because you many not be swallowing
often enough to keep up with the pressure changes.
Children are especially vulnerable because their Eustachian tubes are
narrower than adults. Babies cannot intentionally equalize or pop their
ears, but may do so if they are sucking on a bottle or pacifier. Feed your
baby, keep him/her in a sitting position and do not allow him/her to sleep
during descent when the pressure changes are the worst.
Colds, sinus infections, and allergy attacks exaggerate air pressure
problems, so it is best to postpone an airplane trip. Also, if you have
recently undergone ear surgery, consult your surgeon on how soon you may safely
fly.
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Are hearing aids covered by insurance?
Typically not. Despite the fact that hearing loss is the most common
medical problem in the general population, there are only a few insurance
carriers which cover part of the cost of hearing aids. This is an issue
that SHHH National is working on. For the latest update on this issue,
visit the SHHH national website.
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