The first symptoms of loss hearing
11 million people in the UK are affected by hearing loss. By 2035, that number is predicted to rise up to 15.6 million, according to Express. Ringing, whistling or buzzing sounds in your ears can be a symptom.
One in six people in the UK suffer some form of hearing loss, more or less severe, but many ignore it until their sense of hearing is completely gone. Usually, a person seeks 10 years after they discover the first symptoms, according to research. The earlier it is detected, the more it can be done in order to improve things.
The first sign you might suffer from hearing loss is when others point out to you that they have to repeat what they’re saying, that you don’t react when someone calls your name, that you miss the doorbell or phone or that you are turning up the volume on audio devices louder than is comfortable for other people. Experiencing a ringing, whistling or buzzing sound in your ears, also known as tinnitus, can also be a sign of hearing loss.
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The causes for losing the ability to hear vary. For sensorineural hearing loss, the biggest cause is age – from 40 years old it is normal to begin to lose a small amount of hearing. It can also be triggered by damage to the ear from constant exposure to loud noises, like working with noisy equipment, noisy environments or regularly listening to music through headphones at high volume, sudden exposure to an exceptionally loud noise.
Other causes are: genetics, stroke and an autoimmune condition. For conductive hearing loss, the most common cause is a blockage. The blockage can be a build up of too much ear wax, fluid in the inner ear or an ear infection. It can also stem from eardrum perforation, damage to the delicate bones in the inner ear and unusual bone growth in the middle ear.
If you want to prevent yourself from losing your ability to hear you should keep audio devices volume down, use noise cancelling headphones, avoid pushing objects into your ears or into children’s ears, use ear protection equipment if working in a noisy environment or when attending noisy events.
If you suffer from sensorineural hearing loss, you should know it’s permanent. It can be improved by hearing aids, cochlear implants or auditory brainstem implant. Learning lip reading and sign language can also be helpful.
Conductive hearing loss is, most of the times, temporary and treatable. Treatments vary and can include: ear wax removal using drops, suction or syringing, antibiotics for infection, surgery for damaged ear drums and bones and draining of the fluid build-up.
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