Understanding Hearing Loss: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options
Hearing is an important part of your everyday life, and hearing loss can significantly impact your quality of life. If you think you have hearing loss, talk to a healthcare provider or audiologist. They’ll determine the best way to improve your hearing.
Impact of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss may make you feel as if you’re missing out on life. You may feel uncomfortable trying to carry on telephone conversations or frustrated because you can’t enjoy your favorite movies or shows. You may feel isolated or depressed. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, hearing loss (HL) is the third most common cause of disability around the world. An estimated 25.4 million people in the United States have mild hearing loss. Without treatment, this common condition can have a significant impact on your quality of life.
Recognizing the Symptoms
Learning how to spot the signs and symptoms of mild hearing loss is the first step to taking control of your hearing health. If you have experienced any symptoms of hearing loss, or someone close to you has asked if you are having trouble hearing, it’s important to have your hearing evaluated.
How would you describe your symptoms? Does either ear hurt? Do you often ask others to speak up or repeat themselves? Is the hearing loss in one ear or both?
Common Causes of Hearing Loss
The most common causes of mild hearing loss in adults include age, damage from loud noises (NIHL), and damage from certain medications (ototoxicity).
Diagnosis and Evaluation
The exam will begin with a questionnaire to gather information such as health history, relevant symptoms, and current medications. Following a physical exam of your ears, the hearing healthcare professional will have you respond to various tones and words to diagnose the level and nature of your hearing loss.
- Physical exam: A health care provider looks in your ear for possible causes of your hearing loss, such as earwax or an infection.
- Screening tests:
- App-based hearing tests.
- Tuning fork tests. Tuning forks are two-pronged, metal instruments that make sounds when hit. Simple tests with tuning forks can help find hearing loss.
- Audiometer tests. A specialist in hearing loss, known as an audiologist, does these more-thorough tests. Sounds and words are directed through earphones to each ear.
Treatment Options
You can get help for hearing problems. There are several treatment options available, depending on the cause and severity of the hearing loss.
- Removing earwax: Earwax blockage is a cause of hearing loss that can be fixed.
- Surgery: Some types of hearing loss can be treated with surgery.
- Hearing aids: If hearing loss is from damage to the inner ear, a hearing aid can be helpful.
A hearing specialist, known as an audiologist, can talk about how hearing aids can help and what kinds there are. Hearing aids are the most effective clinical option for anyone seeking treatment for mild hearing loss. Custom hearing aids can improve your daily quality of life and allow you to take part in conversations effortlessly again.
With advancements in hearing aid technology, hearing loss treatment is more effective than ever before. Many newer hearing aid models have artificial intelligence (AI) technology built right in and can be paired with many helpful hearing health apps as well. Mild hearing loss can be a thing of the past with a pair of prescription hearing aids.
Even though your hearing loss may be mild, it can still interfere with your ability to fully engage in noisy spaces. Rather than avoiding such situations, with hearing aids you can enter into these conversations with confidence and hear more completely. This is sure to increase your enjoyment of leisure activities and empower you at work.
- Cochlear implants: When a regular hearing aid isn't likely to help much, a cochlear implant might be an option. A cochlear implant isn't like a hearing aid that makes sound stronger and directs it into the ear canal.
Communication Strategies
Tell your friends and family. Put yourself in a good position to hear. Turn off background noise. Ask others to speak up, but not too loud, and speak clearly. Get the other person's attention before speaking. Choose quiet settings. Consider using a listening aid. Hearing devices can help you hear better while lessening noises around you.
Preparing for Your Appointment
If you think you have hearing loss, call your health care provider. Write down your symptoms and how long you've had them. Write down key medical information, especially related to ear problems. Include any repeated infections, injury to your ear or ear surgery you've had. Describe your work history. Ask friends and family to help you make the list. Take a family member or friend along.
Understanding Decibel Levels
The auditory range of the human ear is measured in decibels (dB), which represents the intensity or loudness of a sound. On average, the lowest decibel a human can hear is 0 dB HL, which is nearly silent. Soft sounds, such as breathing, are usually in the 5-10 dB HL range, while a whisper or rustling leaves are around 20-30 dB HL.
| Sound | Decibel Level (dB HL) |
|---|---|
| Lowest audible sound | 0 |
| Breathing | 5-10 |
| Whisper/Rustling leaves | 20-30 |
The Importance of Early Treatment
One of the most common effects of untreated mild hearing loss is communication difficulties, especially in noisy environments. It’s not uncommon for people to feel embarrassed or even ashamed of losing their hearing, but ignoring the symptoms will only make it worse.
Care at Cleveland Clinic
Hearing is an important part of your everyday life. Hearing loss can impact your life in so many ways.
Getting treatment for mild hearing loss begins with a hearing health exam. If you have experienced any recent changes in your hearing or have not received a hearing test in over three years, don’t wait. Our highly experienced hearing healthcare providers are here to help you rediscover the joys of hearing.