Hearing loss is common as people age, but it can affect anyone at any point in their life. Hearing usually deteriorates over time and can lead to debilitating hearing loss, so it’s vital to be able to identify early signs to prevent further decline.
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ToggleOften the very first signs of hearing loss go unnoticed, as it a gradual process, but some things to watch out for include:
. Difficulty in following conversations and asking people to repeat themselves . Voices sounding muffled, or you think people are mumbling . Difficulty in understanding people in noisy environments such as a café or bar . Ringing, whooshing or buzzing in either one or both ears . A feeling of one or both ears being blocked . Increasing the volume on the radio or TV to be able to hear . Struggling to hear sounds which are high-pitched such as birdsong
If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to have a hearing test with an audiologist, as they can check your hearing and the health of your ears. Anyone looking for a hearing test Cheltenham has a choice of several providers, including https://www.imperialhearing.com/audiologist-near-me/cheltenham/.
There are two main sorts of hearing loss – sensorineural and conductive. The first is due to the sensitive inner ear hair cells becoming damaged, or the auditory nerve being damaged. This can happen due to injury or simply due to age.
Conductive hearing loss happens when there is a blockage such as earwax preventing sounds from passing from the outer ear to the inner chamber. Some people suffer a combination of the two, which is known as mixed hearing loss.
The sooner any hearing loss is diagnosed the better, as a plan can be advised to manage it. Conductive hearing loss is often temporary and may be treated with minor surgery or medication. When the ear drum itself or hearing bones are damaged, this sometimes requires more major surgery.
Sensorineural hearing loss can be improved with hearing aids or implants and through the use of lip reading and sign language.