Do you feel like you're losing your hearing too? (Hearing Loss) - Let's talk about this!

Do you sometimes feel like the TV volume is too low? Or do you have to ask "What did you say?" a couple of times when someone is talking? Do your family members scold you for shouting too much when you talk on the phone? These are not just random things. Maybe this is the beginning of a gradual decline in hearing. Although you may think that this is something that only happens as you get older, it can happen at any age. So don't be afraid, let's talk about this openly.

Simply put, what is hearing loss?

Hearing loss is when your hearing system is affected and you can't hear sounds properly. If you have this condition, it can be very difficult to understand and participate in a conversation. Talking on the phone, participating in an online meeting, or even understanding dialogue while watching TV can be a challenge.

This condition can affect your work, your relationships with others, and your ability to enjoy life. Often, hearing loss is difficult to completely reverse. But don't worry. There are specialists who can treat and help. We call them Audiologists . They are doctors who diagnose and treat hearing problems. They can recommend treatments like hearing aids or cochlear implants to help you restore your hearing.

What are the main types of hearing loss?

Hearing loss can be divided into three main types. It depends on which part of your ear is damaged. Let's look at it this way to make it easier to understand.

How do I know if I'm losing my hearing? What are the symptoms?

Most people lose their hearing very slowly, gradually. So they don't even realize it at first. But if you're experiencing these things, it could be a sign of hearing loss.

• If you always ask others to repeat what they said, "What did you say?" has become a common thing for you to say?
• If you have difficulty understanding a conversation, especially when talking on the telephone or in a noisy place like a restaurant.
• If you feel like other people are whispering. Do you feel like "people's voices aren't as clear now"?
• If you can't hear very subtle, high-pitched sounds like birdsong.
• If you need to turn up the volume on your TV, computer, or tablet much louder than usual.
• If you experience a ringing sound (tinnitus) in your ears.
• If you have an earache .
• If the ear feels like it is filled with fluid or has pressure.
• If you have balance problems or dizziness when walking .

What are the symptoms like in young children and babies?

It's very important to be aware of this as a parent. Young children don't understand when you say they can't hear.

Keep an eye out for these signs in babies who are a few months old:

• If you don't get scared by a sudden loud noise.
• After 6 months of age, if the baby does not turn its head towards a sound.
• Even at one year old, they still can't say simple words like "mom" and "dad".
• If they don't respond when you call their name.

Look at these characteristics of slightly older children:

• If you always ask "What?" "What?" (huh?) .
• If you start talking later than other children of the same age.
• If the words are not clear when speaking.
• If the instructions given are not followed properly (maybe because they are not heard).
• If you turn the TV volume up too much.

Why are you so deaf? What are the reasons?

There are many reasons why hearing loss can occur. For example, sudden exposure to loud noise, like going to a concert, can temporarily affect your hearing. Let's break down the causes.

What happens if hearing loss is ignored?

Hearing loss is not just about not being able to hear sounds. It can have a major impact on your mental and social life.

• Feeling lonely: You may feel like you are socially isolated because you don't understand what others are saying.
• Irritability and frustration: You can easily become angry and frustrated because you constantly have to hear what is being said again and you can't join in on the conversation.
• Psychological problems: People with severe hearing loss are at increased risk of developing mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression .
• Impact on children's education: Children with hearing loss may have difficulty understanding lessons at school. This may also result in lower exam scores.
• Brain health in the elderly: Studies have found a link between hearing loss in the elderly and dementia, a memory loss disease.

How do you find out exactly if you have this condition?

If you suspect you have hearing loss, the best thing to do is to see your doctor right away. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and perform a physical exam, especially to check for ear infections or other problems.

If you have had an accident in your ear or suspect a tumor, you may be asked to have a CT scan or MRI. After that, your doctor will refer you to a specialist, an audiologist, for hearing tests.

Here are some of the main tests an audiologist performs:

• Pure-tone testing: This is the most common test. You are put on headphones and exposed to sounds of varying intensities. This determines the sound you can barely hear. It can also determine what type of hearing loss you have.
• Otoacoustic emissions test (OAE): This tests the function of your inner ear.
• Tympanometry: This test measures how well your eardrum moves. It can detect whether your eardrum is ruptured, fluid is present in the middle ear, or earwax is trapped.

What are the treatments?

Treatment depends on the type of hearing loss you have and its cause.

Can hearing loss be prevented?

We can't prevent some causes, such as aging, but the main cause of hearing loss is excessive noise. So there are many things we can do to prevent noise-induced damage.

• Protect your ears: Wear earplugs or earmuffs when going to places with high noise levels (music concerts, places where machinery is operating).
• Turn down the volume: When listening to music through headphones or earphones, keep the volume low enough to hear people around you. Don't listen to music at more than 80% of the maximum volume for more than 90 minutes a day.
• Do not put anything in your ear: Do not put anything in your ear like cotton swabs or hairpins to clean your ear. These can push earwax further in and damage the eardrum.
• Avoid smoking: Smoking interferes with blood circulation, which can reduce blood supply to the delicate parts of the ear and affect hearing.
• A healthy lifestyle: Controlling diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure and getting regular exercise are also beneficial for ear health.

Hearing Loss, Deafness, Ear Infections, Hearing Aids, Hearing Aids, Cochlear Implants