Tuesday 9 July 2019

Hearing Loss Symptoms


Hearing loss depends on the severity of ear damage and is treated according to its severity. However, the symptoms for identifying hearing loss are generally the same. These include:

  • Having to listen to the sound from television and radio at a much higher level than others.
  • Difficulty keeping up with a conversation
  • Difficulty hearing people over the phone
  • Often asking people to repeat themselves
  • The ringing of the ears
  • Hearing muffled speech and sounds 
  • Social isolation from fear of being judged for poor listening skills
  • Constant pain in one side of the ear 
  • The feeling of pressure build-up in the ear
  • Not able to hear female and young children’s voices.
  • Unable to differentiate certain consonants.
  • Inability to hear songbirds and timers on devices. 

People with high-frequency hearing loss may also develop these symptoms:

Permanent hearing loss can occur due to several reasons including:

Old age - causing the degeneration of the ear structure.

Genetics - you are more likely to suffer ear damage due to genetic ear sensitivity
Result of an illness - severe meningitis can damage the cochlea (inner ear)
Being around loud noises - exposure to loud sounds, such as concerts, can damage the inner ear cells. People working in loud workplaces such as construction or factory sites are also more likely to suffer from ear damage.

Temporary hearing loss can also occur, however these generally only last from a few hours up to a few days. These are usually defined as a Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS). Common reasons for temporary hearing loss include:

A buildup of earwax - blocks the ear canal from receiving sound waves. Earwax removal can restore hearing.

Ear infection or abnormal bone growth - obstruct sound waves. Infections can generally be cured of medications while abnormal bone growths or tumours near the ear may require a small operation.

Exposure to loud noise - Frequent exposure to loud noises make it harder for the ears to recover from TTS. If constant exposure continues, the ear may not be able to recover from TTS and suffer from permanent damage.

If you fear you are suffering from hearing loss, it is best to get your ears tested straight away. Take this short quiz to determine if you need a hearing test. Attune takes a holistic medical approach and conducts a range of comprehensive tests to determine the cause, type and level of hearing loss. As a patient, if you fall into any of these categories, Attune will be able to provide you with a range of free services to diagnose your hearing. Visit our website or call on 1300 736 702 to book an appointment!

No comments:

Post a Comment