HearingLoss

Hearing loss is becoming an increasing problem in young adults due to exposure to loud noises from rock concerts, parties, and personal music players, such as iPods or MP3 players. It is not just a problem in older people.

Signs & Symptoms

•Words are hard to understand. This worsens when there is background noise.
•Certain sounds are overly loud or annoying.
•Hearing a hissing or ringing background noise. This can be constant or it can come and go.
•Concerts, TV shows, etc. are less enjoyable because much goes unheard.

Causes

•Presbycusis (prez-bee-KU-sis). This is a gradual type of hearing loss. It is common with aging. With this, you can have a hard time understanding speech. You may not tolerate loud sounds. You may not hear high pitched sounds. Hearing loss from presbycusis does not cause deafness.
•Ear wax that blocks the ear canal.
•A chronic middle ear infection or an infection of the inner ear.
•Medicines (e.g., aspirin).
•Blood vessel disorders, such as high blood pressure.
•Acoustic trauma, such as from a blow to the ear or from excessive noise. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) can be from a one-time exposure to an extremely loud sound or to repeated exposure to loud level sounds. (See Decibels of Sound in the left column.)
•Ménière’s disease. This is a problem of the inner ear. The hearing loss comes and goes. Dizziness is also a symptom.
•Small tumors on the auditory nerve. Brain tumor (rarely).

Treatment

Resources

American Speech-Language Hearing Association

800.638.8255

www.asha.org

Better Hearing Institute | Hearing Help-on-Line

www.betterhearing.org

•Earwax is removed by a health care provider.
•Hearing aid(s). These make sounds louder.
•Speech reading. This is learning to read lips and facial expressions.
•Auditory training. This helps with specific hearing problems.
•Surgery. This can be done if the problem requires it.

If you suspect hearing loss, see your doctor. You may need a medical examination by an Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) specialist and a hearing test by an audiologist.

Questions to Ask

When your child is awake, does he or she not respond to any sound, even a whistle or a loud clap?

With hearing loss, do any of these problems occur?

•A discharge from the ear.
•Ear pain doesn’t go away.
•You feel dizzy or it feels like things are spinning around you.
•A recent ear or respiratory infection.
•It feels like your ears are blocked.

Did you lose your hearing after exposure to loud noises, (e.g., rock concerts, power tools, firearms, etc.) and has this not improved?

Self-Care / Prevention

To Prevent Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)

•Know that noises at or above 85 decibels can cause damage.
•Keep the volume on personal listening devices at medium or low levels. At full blast, an iPod can reach about 105-110 decibels. If someone standing next to you can hear the music playing while you listen to your device using earbuds or earphones, the sound is too high.

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), your ears can be your warning system for potentially dangerous noises. The noise is too loud when:

•You have to raise your voice to be understood by someone standing nearby.
•The noise hurts your ears.
•You develop a buzzing or ringing sound in your ears, even temporarily.
•You don't hear as well as you normally do until several hours after you get away from the noise.

If you are around noises at this level, take protective action. To avoid NIHL:

•Block the noise (wear earplugs or earmuffs).
•Avoid the noise (walk away).
•Turn down the sound.

To Hear Sounds Better

•Use a hearing aid. There are many kinds. Examples are ones worn:
-In-the-Ear (ITE).
-Behind-the-Ear (BTE).
-In-the-Canal (ITC).
•To find the hearing aid that works best for you, see an audiologist. Ask him or her about a trial period with different hearing aids to find one you are comfortable with.
•Use devices and listening systems that help you hear better when you use your telephone, mobile phone, TV, stereo, etc.

To Clear Earwax

Use only if the eardrum is not ruptured. (See Ruptured Eardrum Signs.) Check with your doctor if you are not sure.

•Lie on your side. Using a syringe or medicine dropper, carefully squeeze a few drops of lukewarm water into your ear (or have someone else do this). Let the water remain there for 10 to 15 minutes and then shake it out. Now, squeeze a few drops of hydrogen peroxide, mineral oil, or an over-the-counter cleaner, such as Debrox, into the ear. Let the excess fluid flow out of the ear.
•After several minutes, put warm water in the ear again. Let it stay there for 10 to 15 minutes. Tilt the head to allow it to drain out of the ear.

Repeat this entire procedure again in 3 hours if the earwax has not cleared.