| How do we hear? |
| There are three parts to the ear – the outer, middle and inner ear. Sounds travel through the air as waves. In a normal hearing ear, sounds are funnelled into the ear canal and this causes the ear drum or tympanic membrane to vibrate. These vibrations are passed into the inner ear via the three middle ear bones. |
The inner ear contains organs of hearing and balance. The vibrations passed to the hearing part of the inner ear, the cochlea, are converted into electrical impulses which then pass up the auditory or eighth nerve to the brain. When the brain receives the message, it processes it so that you know what you are hearing, such as a telephone ringing, a tap at the door or more complex sounds like understanding speech.
| Different kinds of hearing loss |
There are two main kinds of hearing loss:
- Conductive hearing loss - where sound cannot pass freely through the outer or middle ear
- Sensorineural hearing loss - where the cause of the deafness is in the cochlea or in the hearing nerve. Sensorineural deafness often reduces the quality of sound as well as its volume.
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| What might I notice if I have a hearing loss? |
Most hearing problems start gradually, and so they are less noticeable, as we adapt to them, and use other strategies such as lip-reading to help. However, you may notice some of the following problems in your day-to-day life:
- Other people may seem to mumble rather than speak clearly
- People often have to repeat things for you before you understand what they say
- You may find yourself moving closer to the person speaking in order to be able to hear them
- Others may tell you that the television or radio is turned up too loud
- You find it difficult to hear what is being said when you are in a noisy place
- When you are talking to people in a group, you may find that you have to concentrate hard to keep up with the conversation
Hearing problems can be frustrating, cause you to tire quickly, as the brain is trying to fill in the gaps that you do not hear. If you notice one or more of these situations apply to you, it may be worth arranging to have your hearing tested. |
| What can cause hearing problems? |
Hearing problems can be caused by temporary or permanent problems. A cold, ear infection or build up of ear wax in the ear canal can temporarily reduce the hearing. There are many causes of permanent hearing loss, the following are the most common:
- Age-related hearing loss or presbyacusis – over half of people over 60 years of age will have a hearing loss of some degree
- Noise exposure – exposure to loud sound over prolonged period, either through work or leisure can damage the hearing permanently
- Diseases of the ear. Infections of the middle ear or perforated eardrums can cause a hearing loss.
- Genetics - about one in every thousand babies is born moderately to profoundly deaf.
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| How common are hearing problems ? |
One in seven people in the general population has a hearing loss of some degree in at least one of their ears. Most of the 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK have developed a hearing loss as they get older. Only about 2% of young adults are deaf or hard of hearing. Around the age of 50 the proportion of deaf people begins to increase sharply and 55% of people over 60 are deaf or hard of hearing. |
| What should I do if I am concerned about my hearing? |
Contact us in the first instance for a chat about the difficulties you are having; we will be able to advise you on the most appropriate course of action. The best way to establish your hearing ability and the cause or nature of your hearing loss is to examine your ears and undertake a hearing test. A hearing test or Pure Tone Audiogram is a simple but very accurate way of establishing your hearing levels in both ears. We will then be able to discuss the results with you and offer you advice about the options available. Further tests may be required, but these will be discussed with you. Where referral to medical colleague is required we can arrange this with your permission.
Call Marianne or Philip on 01782 722840 to discuss your difficulties and arrange your free hearing test. |
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