How to detect a hearing loss?

WONDERING IF YOU HAVE A HEARING LOSS

Hearing loss is an invisible disability, it usually takes time for a person to realize they are hard of hearing. It is very common for family and friends to notice hearing loss symptoms before the hard of hearing individual realizes it.

A hearing loss occurs when one or many parts of the hearing system are not functioning properly. Due to the many variants implicated, some individuals with a hearing loss may hear better than others, there are many different degrees and types of hearing loss.

Hearing loss is one of most prevalent and growing chronic diseases in Canada. While there are many causes of hearing loss, congenital, noise-induced and age-related hearing loss are the most common.

Statistics say that 10% of the Canadian population suffer from a significant hearing loss. This number increases to 20% of those over the age of 65 and 40% of those over 75.

HEARING LOSS SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR

• Listening to the television or radio at a high volume
• Difficulties understanding speech over the phone
• Difficulties understanding speech in areas with loud background noise
• Sounds seem muffled and others appear to be mumbling and not articulating speech properly
• Avoiding conversation and isolation from social activities

OTHER ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS

• Painful, irritated or itchy ears can be associated with middle ear infections.
• Pus or fluid coming out of the ear can be associated with an outer ear infection or a perforated eardrum.
• Vertigo can be associated with an acoustic neuroma, Meniere’s disease and other vestibular disorders.
• Tinnitus or a ringing sound in the ears can be associated with many types of hearing loss.
• Speech delay in children can be associated with a congenital hearing loss or a history of middle ear infections.

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