Aging and exposure to loud noises can both lead to hearing loss. Hearing loss is usually permanent, but there are methods to improve how well you hear. Protecting your hearing can also help prevent hearing loss from worsening over time.
Symptoms
Symptoms of hearing loss may include:
Trouble following conversations, especially in loud environments
Difficulty hearing higher-pitched sounds, including higher voices
Trouble hearing consonants
Needing the TV, radio, or phone speakers to be louder than others
Ringing or buzzing in the ear, known as tinnitus
Needing to frequently ask others to speak more slowly, clearly or loudly
If you experience a sudden loss of hearing, particularly in one ear, or any symptoms of hearing loss, visit a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
How Hearing Works
The ear has three primary parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Each section of the ear is made up of structures that play a distinct role in hearing.
The outer ear, which includes the visible part of the ear and the ear canal, gathers sound waves from the environment. These sound waves pass through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. The middle ear contains three tiny bones that connect the eardrum to the inner ear. These bones amplify the sound vibrations as they travel to the inner ear.
In the inner ear, vibrations pass through fluid in a snail-shaped chamber, called the cochlea. Nerve cells in the cochlea are lined with thousands of tiny hairs that help turn sound vibrations into electrical signals that are sent to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound. Most hearing loss happens due to damage to the inner ear.
Causes of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can occur due to:
Damage to the inner ear: Aging and loud noises can cause damage to the hairs or nerve cells in the inner ear. When damaged or broken, these cells lose their ability to send signals to the brain. The ability to hear higher-pitched sounds is usually lost first.
Earwax buildup: Earwax can block the ear canal over time, which prevents sound waves from reaching the eardrum. Earwax removal can help restore hearing.
Ear infection: Infections, or unusual bone growths or tumors, can cause hearing loss.
Ruptured eardrum: Loud blasts of noise, sudden changes in pressure, infection and poking the eardrum with an object can cause the eardrum to rupture.
Risk Factors for Hearing Loss
Aging: The inner ear suffers wear and tear over time, causing a gradual loss of hearing as we age. Roughly 38% of Canadian adults between the ages of 20-79 are affected by hearing loss, but the condition is most common at older ages.
Loud noise: Exposure to loud noises can harm the cells in the inner ear and cause the hairs that line those cells to break. Both one-time exposure to an intense burst of sound and continuous exposure to loud noises over time can cause hearing loss.
There are many sounds in our daily environments. Most of these noises - like conversations, road traffic, and air conditioning - are safe, even after extended periods. Long or repeated exposure to sounds 85 decibels (dB) or louder can cause hearing loss.
Many recreational activities can put you at risk:
Target shooting or hunting (140-175 dB)
Attending a live music event (110-130 dB)
Attending a live sporting event (90-140 dB)
Woodworking and home projects (90-112 dB)
Boating or motorcycle riding (80-100 dB)
Listening to loud music with headphones (up to 112 dB)
Heredity: Having a family history of hearing loss may increase your risk for inner ear damage due to aging and loud noises.
Certain medications: Although not common, some medications can cause hearing loss. Examples include:
Certain antibiotics, such as vancomycin and gentamicin
High doses of aspirin
Sildenafil (Viagra)
Water pills (diuretics)
Chemotherapy medications, such as cisplatin and carboplatin
Certain infections: Illnesses that cause high fever, such as meningitis, can damage the inner ear, leading to hearing loss.
Protect Your Hearing
While some hearing loss related to aging cannot be prevented, there are steps you can take to limit hearing loss from loud noises and prevent hearing loss from aging from getting worse.
Protect your ears: Avoiding exposure to loud noises is the best protection. In the workplace or other loud environments where eliminating or reducing sound exposure is not possible, wear protective hearing gear, such as earplugs or noise-cancelling earmuffs.
Monitor the volume of your devices: While watching TV or using mobile devices, be mindful of the volume. Set the volume at a level that is comfortable, such that you do not have to strain to hear, but not so loud that you can hear it from another area of the house.
Get a baseline hearing test: Consider making regular hearing tests a routine part of your healthcare. Early detection of changes in your hearing ability helps ensure timely intervention and if you have lost hearing, you can take steps to prevent further hearing loss.
Protecting your hearing is important for your overall health and well-being. Hearing loss is linked to many health conditions, such as depression and dementia, that can have a negative impact on your quality of life. Prevention and early intervention are essential.
Mushkegowuk Health offers audiology appointments in Timmins and the Mushkegowuk communities, covering the following services: hearing assessments, hearing aid evaluations, assistive listening devices, and hearing aid repairs and cleaning.
To make an appointment with our Registered Audiologist, please contact us at: moma@mushkegowuk.ca or 705-269-6662