The world is becoming a noisier place, and what we listen to have to get louder as the background noise increases. This increase in volume has helped to increase the number of deaf or hard of hearing Americans to over 28 million.

 

Fortunately a lot of hearing loss can be prevented or delayed. Hearing aid technology and medical treatments have advanced to enable many more people to retain their hearing.

 

Hearing loss is no longer reserved for the elderly as more young people are being exposed to dangerous sound levels. 30 million Americans are exposed to dangerously high noise levels on a daily basis and 10 million are known to have already suffered irreversible damage to their hearing.

 

The age group with the biggest decline in hearing is people between the ages of 45 and 64 with 85% loss amongst women and 365% loss amongst men. Luckily damage to a person's hearing from ear infections, including infections to the middle ear, and noise levels is preventable.

 

Regular hearing tests are recommended and should be started at birth. Problems with a newborn baby's hearing can now be detected with an inexpensive technique known as otoacoustic emissions. Language skills begin to develop in the first six months after birth and by diagnosing any problems as early as possible will give a child the best opportunity for healthy development.

 

Hearing is due to the miraculous process of turning sound waves into vibrations by collecting the sound at the outer ear and channeling the sound to the middle and inner ear where the ear drum and small bones vibrate. Hearing occurs because nerves transport electrical signals to the brain from cells that vibrate inside the cochlea. These cells do not grow back if they become damaged.

 

One common symptom of hearing damage is tinnitus where the person hears a constant ringing or a buzz which is not actually present. It is estimated that 40 million Americans have some form of tinnitus, but thankfully the majority can learn to live with it.

 

Some tinnitus cases are only very slight and affects people at night time when everything else is silent. For many, the discomfort is too annoying and can really affect their lives. Unfortunately there is currently no cure for tinnitus but approximately 80% of the 10 million people who do suffer from severe tinnitus can get some form of relief.

 

William Shatner, the actor best known for his role as Captain Kirk on the television series Star Trek was almost driven to commit suicide after being tormented by tinnitus. Explosions during the making of the television series may have been to blame for his condition.

 

Here are some ways in which you can protect your hearing. You can save your hearing by wearing protective earplugs. Prolonged exposure to sound above 90 decibels from machinery such as lawnmowers and drills can cause temporary hearing loss. 100 decibels from work equipment can damage a person's hearing in 15 minutes if left unprotected. Chainsaws, rock concerts and racing cars can cause permanent hearing loss as they often produce over 110 decibels.

 

Hearing damage can be caused by ear infections if they are not treated early. An ear infection is not always accompanied by pain or fever. The only noticeable symptom may be the loss in hearing. If you ever suffer any problems with your hearing, book an appointment to see a doctor and get a test done.

Tags: ears, hearing aids, hearing test, loss of hearing, hearing, Health, hearing loss

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