What is Hearing Loss ?

photo of ear, courtesy of Creative Commons

So just what is hearing loss and hearing health all about?

You may have all about hearing aid costs and the newest digital hearing aids that abound. And, in fact, hearing health has become an issue for those in their fifties. Even forties. But why? You may be aware that it has become a major public health issue, with an estimated over 28 million Americans suffering to some degree. And increasing. It has become a serious elderly problem for those over age 65. Sometimes as we age, sudden hearing loss also occurs; and it is scary (it happened to my Dad). With all these concerns, it is vital to understand the basics.

All types of hearing loss involve reduction in the sensitivity to sound. It happens when something abnormal blocks the functioning of the important auditory system of the ear. This commonly occurs to the tympanic membrane. There may also be impairment to the normal friction that occurs in the three tiny bones in the ear called the malleus, incus, and stapes. Various types of hearing loss can involve either the middle ear or inner ear.

To answer "what is hearing loss," we must first understand the kinds. There are three main types of hearing loss:

Conductive hearing loss -- (middle ear)
Sensorineural hearing loss -- (inner ear, auditory nerve or brain)
Mixed hearing loss

Hearing loss due to aging is called presbycusis, and is the most common of the types of hearing loss. It can be caused by different factors: damage to the sensitive hair cells in the ear, degeneration of the ear neurons and auditory nerve, degeneration to the ear’s blood supply system, or stiffening of the ear’s basilar membrane.

Many patients have a mixed hearing loss, partly due to neural factors and blood supply factors. Also common is high frequency hearing loss, the inability to hear certain frequencies, perhaps women's and children's voices and soft sounds.

The causes of hearing loss described here are generalizations, and obviously an ear specialist should be consulted to test hearing loss.

More Than Loss of Hearing

But many elderly who experience hearing loss symptoms resist or are in denial to test hearing loss. Hearing loss can sometimes further define the concept of “old age.” It can be stubbornness. Many elderly just don’t want to deal with the problem because the hassle and implications can be overwhelming. Other elderly people may admit they have hearing loss symptoms but deny that it is affecting them and so do not obtain help.

The effects of elderly hearing loss are more than physical, especially if there is sudden hearing loss. But depending on the cause, there are options for sudden hearing loss treatments. Hearing loss It is one of the major elderly issues and contributor to elderly depression and anxiety. They can lose self-esteem. Hearing loss can result in isolation and inability to participate in social activities because the elderly person cannot hear others. Some elderly cease attending church. There is loss of entertainment such as enjoyment of music, attending movie theaters or concerts, or watching TV, especially if vision loss in a problem as well. The result is an overall decrease in quality of life.

Now with the aging of baby boomers, less stigma is attached to the issue of what is hearing loss. And more attention is being given to hearing loss prevention, research and treatments. With hearing aid costs becoming more affordable, these are important life- enhancing options. Nowadays there is a stronger trend for the 55+ aging population to admit to and deal with hearing health and hearing loss early -- instead of letting it interfere with a fuller quality of life.

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