Having trouble hearing a conversation in a crowded restaurant? Feeling left out at a party?Missing the sounds of birds outside? Hearing a buzz in your ears that won’t go away?
It’s probably hearing loss or tinnitus – and you’re not alone. About 360 million people worldwide have these common conditions – and there’s a lot that can be done to help.
Before you start picking out hearing aids, it’s important to know your hearing loss type and level.
Hearing loss is typically divided into two categories: conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. You can also have a mixed hearing loss, which is a combination of the two.
If you suspect that you have a hearing loss, your local hearing care professional can conduct a full hearing evaluation.
If you hear a ringing, buzzing or humming noise in your ears, you probably have tinnitus. Tinnitus is a common and manageable condition. Most often, it is caused by repeated exposure to excessively loud noise.
Most people who have tinnitus also have some form of hearing loss. The tinnitus sounds they hear often come from the brain overcompensating for the loss by creating its own background noise. Some forms can also be related to muscle movements near the ear or problems with blood flow in the face or neck.
Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of factors, including aging. It has also been associated with ear infections, earwax and sensory nerve disorders. Stress, high blood pressure and alcohol use can also cause tinnitus.
Early signs of hearing loss can be subtle. Maybe you find yourself asking your husband to repeat himself a lot – or you didn’t catch the whole conversation at table last night. As time goes on, your hearing is likely to get worse, robbing you of the sound you are used to.
Common early hearing loss symptoms include:
Unsure if you have a hearing loss? Take our free online hearing test.
If you are experiencing a sudden or dramatic loss of hearing, contact a medical professional immediately.
The first step toward helping a loved one with hearing loss is to make sure that they understand their condition. To start, ask your loved one to take our free five-minute online hearing test.
Here are some other tips for communicating with someone with hearing loss:
