omplimentary hearing consultation!
For advertising information call 859.368.0778 or email [email protected] | May 2016
–COLUMN PROVIDED BY–
ogy
list
ist
gy
HEARING
963.2958
&
19
Lexington • 259 Southland Dr
859.963.2958 | kyhearing.com
Other
convenient
locations:
259
Southland
Drive, Lexington,
KY
Prestonsburg • 1428 N Lake Dr
Pikeville • 5425 N Mayo Trail, Ste 201
m
Signs, Consequences and
Myths of Hearing Loss
By Dr. Brewer, Audiology Associates
Did you know
over 45
million
Americans have hearing loss?
Over half of those with hearing
loss are under 65 years of age.
One in 14 Generation Xers
already has hearing loss.
One in six baby boomers has a
hearing issue.
Three in 10 people over the age
of 60 have hearing loss.
Hearing loss does not discriminate.
It can happen to anyone no matter his
or her age, demographic background
or ethnicity. Often the signs of hearing
loss are ignored. This article seeks to
describe those signs, discuss the consequences of hearing loss and explain
some myths that go along with it.
• Difficulty hearing in noisy situations such as conferences, restaurants or crowded meetings
• Requiring frequent repetition
• Ringing in your ears
EMOTIONAL SIGNS
• Feeling nervous about trying to
hear or understand
• Feeling annoyed at others because
you do not hear or understand
them well
• Feeling stressed from straining to
hear what others are saying
• Feeling embarrassed about meeting
new people
• Withdrawing from social situations
you once enjoyed because of difficulty hearing
SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS
Hearing loss can be gradual or sudden. Loved ones often notice signs of
hearing loss before the patient even
recognizes he has a problem. Here are
some warning signs to look for:
MEDICAL SIGNS
• Family history of hearing loss
• Taking medications that can affect
the hearing system
• Exposure to loud noises
• Memory loss
• Diabetes
• Thyroid problems
• Hypertension
• High blood pressure
SOCIAL SIGNS
• Trouble hearing women and
children
• Reading lips or watching an individual’s face when they speak
• Answering or responding inappropriately in conversation
• Thinking voices sound muffled
CONSEQUENCES OF
HEARING LOSS
It is well documented that untreated hearing loss can significantly
increase the possibility of depression
and anxiety. While it is natural to
have some degree of depression following the diagnosis of hearing loss,
left untreated, it can severely hinder
quality of life.
When an individual is unable to
clearly understand conversations, feelings of shame, humiliation and inadequacy can arise. The desire to hide
hearing aids often results from these
feelings, as hearing aids are a visible
reminder that someone is “different.”
However, the stress of untreated hearing loss can lead to distrust, sadness,
depression, anger, isolation, poor selfimage and feeling inadequate. Too often
guilt can be thrown into the emotional
mix because many individuals blame
themselves for the misunderstandings.
People sometimes become over-apologetic for asking others to repeat themselves. It is crucial to remember the
problem is not any one person’s fault.
MYTHS ABOUT HEARING LOSS
“Minor surgery can correct my hearing loss and
everything will be okay.”
While surgery can correct some
types of hearing loss, in fact it is estimated that only 5 percent to 10 percent
can be treated by surgery.
“Hearing loss is a normal part of aging [