Being able to hear what is going on around you is a major part of leading a normal, full and enjoyable life. Interacting effectively with others and the environment as a whole is significantly less challenging when your hearing is functioning at or near it's full capacity. When it's not, it's easy to start having difficulty understanding what is happening. Although man associate hearing loss with old age, it can happen to anyone regardless of how old they are. Anyone who is experiencing signs of such difficulties should take them seriously and possibly have a hearing evaluation performed to determine the cause and best form of treatment.
The problems often develop gradually, making the signs difficult to detect for the in whom the hearing loss is occurring. It is common for the signs to be more easily noticed by others who live with or spend a lot of time with them.
Changes in behavior are the most easily recognized signs. One example is when one begins to attend fewer social events. It may be that difficulty with hearing is causing it to be difficult to be at such gatherings and they would rather avoid being in an uncomfortable situation. Another classic sign is when the person has the volume on the radio or TV noticeably louder than they previously would have. This is an example of something that might be occur slowly over time and be hard to notice. Complaints by others of the person not listening to what they are saying is a common sign as well.
If one or more of these or other signs leads one to suspect that there is a significant problem that needs to be addressed, then help can be sought. Going to the doctor may result in a referral to an audiologist in order to get a hearing evaluation.
Different methods are available for assessing the problems. With an audiometer test, the patient is in a soundproof booth and wears headphones that are connected to the audiometer itself. Tones of different frequencies and volumes are produced and the patient must signal when and where they hear the tones. The audiologist plots the results on an audiogram, a chart which will show the volumes and frequencies at which the difficulties are most pronounced.
Another test is to use a tuning fork. The vibrating tuning fork is placed in the middle of the patient's forehead and they identify whether the sound is louder in either ear or equal in both ears. If it appears to be louder in one ear then this can help to determine the type of hearing loss that is occurring.
Another test can be performed to assess how well one can hear when there is background noise. The patient must repeat sentences that they hear. This is done at first without any background noise, then it repeated with extra noise coming from different angles and at differing volumes.
When the hearing evaluation has been completed, the course of treatment can be determined. Ideally the measures taken will be able to restore enough of the hearing that has been lost to allow for a normal, enjoyable life.
The problems often develop gradually, making the signs difficult to detect for the in whom the hearing loss is occurring. It is common for the signs to be more easily noticed by others who live with or spend a lot of time with them.
Changes in behavior are the most easily recognized signs. One example is when one begins to attend fewer social events. It may be that difficulty with hearing is causing it to be difficult to be at such gatherings and they would rather avoid being in an uncomfortable situation. Another classic sign is when the person has the volume on the radio or TV noticeably louder than they previously would have. This is an example of something that might be occur slowly over time and be hard to notice. Complaints by others of the person not listening to what they are saying is a common sign as well.
If one or more of these or other signs leads one to suspect that there is a significant problem that needs to be addressed, then help can be sought. Going to the doctor may result in a referral to an audiologist in order to get a hearing evaluation.
Different methods are available for assessing the problems. With an audiometer test, the patient is in a soundproof booth and wears headphones that are connected to the audiometer itself. Tones of different frequencies and volumes are produced and the patient must signal when and where they hear the tones. The audiologist plots the results on an audiogram, a chart which will show the volumes and frequencies at which the difficulties are most pronounced.
Another test is to use a tuning fork. The vibrating tuning fork is placed in the middle of the patient's forehead and they identify whether the sound is louder in either ear or equal in both ears. If it appears to be louder in one ear then this can help to determine the type of hearing loss that is occurring.
Another test can be performed to assess how well one can hear when there is background noise. The patient must repeat sentences that they hear. This is done at first without any background noise, then it repeated with extra noise coming from different angles and at differing volumes.
When the hearing evaluation has been completed, the course of treatment can be determined. Ideally the measures taken will be able to restore enough of the hearing that has been lost to allow for a normal, enjoyable life.
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