About Hearing and How We Hear
Knowing about hearing is important and here we will try to explain it a bit. Sound is transmitted as sound waves that are gathered by the outer ear and sent down the ear canal to the ear drum. The sound causes the eardrum to vibrate which sets the three tiny bones in the middle ear in motion.
This motion causes the fluid in the inner ear (cochlea) to move. The movement of the inner ear fluid causes the tiny hair cells in the cochlea to bend. The hair cells change this movement into electrical impulses. These electrical impulses are transmitted to the hearing (auditory) nerve and up to the brain where they are interpreted as sound.
How do I know if I have Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss occurs to most people as they age and it can also be a result of exposure to loud noise, medications, infections, head or ear trauma, congenital or hereditary factors and some disease processes. The vast majority of problems do not require medical or surgical intervention. Some 90 to 95 percent of all cases can be corrected with hearing aid.
Who Should See an Audiologist?
If you suspect you have some hearing loss, phone to make an appointment with us. Hearing loss can occur at any age and for many reasons. In adults, however, one of the most common periods for hearing loss to begin is between the ages of 40 and 55 years.
A simple hearing test can determine if you have a problem or not, so the first step is to make an appointment. If your test results are found to be within normal limits, no further action will be necessary.
Common Signs of Hearing Loss
- You can hear, but can’t understand the words clearly
- You have difficulty with background noise, such as in restaurants, parties, theaters, and religious services
- You have difficulty understanding what is being said unless you are directly facing the person speaking
- You feel that others mumble, slur their words, or talk too quickly.
- You have ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus)
- Tinnitus can be caused by many things, including hearing loss, middle ear disorders, noise exposure history, and many non-ear related causes, such as medications
- You have to ask people to repeat words or phrases, even though they feel they are speaking loud enough
- You prefer the TV or radio louder than is comfortable for others
- You have difficulty understanding conversation in a group of people, or when more than one person is speaking
- You are beginning to avoid social situations, public facilities, group meetings, or family gatherings where listening may be difficult for you, and participation in such activities brings less enjoyment than it once did
- You frequently nod your head “yes” in agreement when you are not fully sure what someone has said.