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"Hearing loss is one of the most
prevalent chronic conditions in the United States, affecting more than nine million
Americans over the age of 65 and 10 million Americans age 45 to 64".
The National Council on the Aging (NCOA) |
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How's your Hearing?
This is what a sentence may sound like to a hearing impaired person...
(Move your cursor over the above sentence to see
what it sounds like when hearing is restored!)
Do you find yourself using this sentence more often than you should? If
so, you may be suffering from a hearing loss!
Symptoms of hearing loss:
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, a hearing loss
may be present:
- You often ask others to repeat themselves.
- You're turning up the volume on the television higher and higher.
- You think people are mumbling when they talk to you.
- You have to strain to hear when someone talks or whispers.
- You find it difficult to hear someone call from another room or from behind you.
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- You find yourself watching the persons lips closely to follow conversation.
- You have trouble following a conversation when you’re in a group of people.
- You have a hard time hearing the other party over the telephone.
- Your family and friends ask you if your having trouble hearing because they notice you
doing some or all of the above!
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Most hearing loss occurs so gradually that the signs are often difficult to recognize. The
human memory for sounds is short and people tend to forget how things sound. They start to
live in a quieter world, unaware that they are missing the softer sounds of everyday life,
like the falling of rain or birds singing. |
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Hearing loss comes in several different forms:
Most people think of hearing loss as the reduction of volume making it difficult to
hear "normal" sounds.
Compensation for this type of loss comes in the form of turning up the sound on a radio
and TV or asking someone to speak louder.
This type of loss usually results in problems hearing
and understanding soft, high frequency (high pitch) consonants, such as:
t, sh, f, p, s, th. This can cause misunderstanding of words like hop, hot, and hatch.
This can cause problems understanding someone's conversation and even result in inappropriate answers to questions.
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The most common complaint of someone with a hearing loss is,
"I can hear but I can't understand". |
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The third type of loss is the inability to understand speech in a noisy
environment.
This can happen in a restaurant or at a party and can be very frustrating for someone who
otherwise has few problems hearing, but has difficulty under these circumstances. The
background noise may not seem loud, but may be enough to mask the speech.
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Usually a person with hearing loss experiences problems
from all three areas to varying degrees. Depending on the nature and severity of the hearing loss, some people have difficulties in only certain situations, whereas
others might have problems hearing and understanding almost all the time. While it might appear that some people practice "selective
listening" (he/she hears what they want to hear) a mild or high frequency hearing loss might actually be the culprit.
People with normal hearing can generally separate out the speech from
the background sounds, but for someone with a hearing loss, background music, other people talking in a restaurant, or even the noise of the car
can make it very difficult to distinguish speech from the other sounds.
Steps to better hearing:
If you think you're experiencing a hearing loss, you don't
need to suffer needlessly.
| A survey of 2,300 hearing impaired adults age
50 and older found that those with untreated hearing loss were more likely to report depression,
anxiety, and paranoia and were less likely to participate in organized social activities, compared
to those who wear hearing aids. |
The first step to better hearing
involves a thorough examination from a qualified, professional
Audiologist. The Hearing and Ear Care Center provides that exact
service. Your ability to hear is tested in a sound proof booth. Using a
series of tones and sounds we evaluate your level of hearing loss if
any. The results of this test are immediately available for evaluation.
If a loss is present, we will explain your options, and if necessary,
recommend the hearing aid that will give you the best results based on
your particular needs.
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If a hearing aid is needed, impressions are made of the ears to make the
earmold or shell of the hearing aid. This ensures a comfortable,
exact fit to your ear. After the initial fitting, several follow
up visits to the audiologist will allow for adjustments and
modifications as needed.
Within a few weeks of use, most people
have adapted to the aids and only need to return for a six month
checkup.
At The Hearing and Ear Care Center your
satisfaction is guaranteed. You pay for the hearing aids only after
you have had an opportunity to evaluate their performance*.
* A return fee applies
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We
have helped hundreds of people hear better over the years. Maybe we can help you too!
Call us today to schedule your personal consultation
and you'll be on your way to better hearing! |
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