Tuesday, March 26, 2024

What Are 2 Types Of Hearing Loss

Don't Miss

How Much Noise Is Too Much

2 Types of Hearing Loss

This depends on the loudness of the sound, how long you are exposed and to some extent how impulsive the sound is. Sound starts becoming hazardous around 80 decibels.

You can do a rough sound level check with a sound level meter app which can be downloaded onto your mobile phone or tablet.

The following decibel chart provides approximate sound levels of some common sounds.

The decibel chart shows many sounds commonly experienced in the home, at work or in recreational activities which can be hazardous.

How hazardous depends on how long you are exposed. 85 decibels for eight hours is the current exposure standard in Australia. This is the same exposure as 88 decibels for four hours or 91 decibels for two hours.

However sounds above 140 decibels are dangerous for any exposure.

How Hearing Loss Affects Life In Cities

The problems associated with hearing loss extend well beyond the office. When you leave to catch the bus or subway home, you rely on your hearing in a multitude of ways.

For instance, on the subway platform, when announcers cancel trains or let you know about delays, its hard enough to comprehend them over poor-quality PA systems without hearing loss. But when your ears cant pick up different words, and focusing on speech becomes hard, staying informed about transportation becomes a nightmare.

In unfamiliar cities, youll start to miss announcements about stops, or youll miss information given by station attendants. In the process, youll quickly come to understand how important speech is to getting around modern cities, even with all the apps in the world to guide us.

Then there are our fellow commuters. When we travel to and from work, we have to ask people to move aside, apologize, smile, say hello all of the little things that make massive movements of people run smoothly. If you cant hear well, it becomes more confusing and stressful to deal with strangers, particularly on packed buses or trains.

And finally theres the street. When you cant hear properly, it can be difficult to pick up the noise of approaching traffic, and pushbikes are really hard to detect, raising the risk of accidents.

Adjusting To Hearing Aids

It’s important to understand that your hearing aid cant make your hearing what it used to be. But as you use it, youll become more aware of sounds and where they are coming from.

When you first get your hearing aids, be patient. It may take some time to get used to them. In most states, you are allowed a trial period after you buy a device. Then, if yours don’t work out for you, you may get a partial refund and be able try a different type that works better for you. Also ask about warranty coverage.

Take time to learn how your hearing aids work and insist on a good fit. Work closely with your audiologist to avoid problems such as:

  • Discomfort
  • Echo-like sounds from your voice
  • Feedback or a whistling sound
  • Background noise
  • Buzzing with cell phone use

It may help to start wearing your hearing aids in quiet areas and to keep a diary about how you feel.

Also Check: Phonak Icom Vs Compilot

The Prevalence Of Hearing Impairment In Germany

According to epidemiological studies, the prevalence of hearing impairment that is severe enough to require treatment is about 19% in Germany . This figure is arrived at when hearing impairment is operationally defined as a diminution of hearing ability by at least 40 dB in five test frequencies from 0.5 to 4 kHz. Thus, in 2001, there were about 13.2 million persons with hearing impairment living in Germany. The actual number may be even higher, however, because children up to age 14 were not included in the study, and also because the WHO sets a lower threshold for the definition of hearing impairment.

Congenital bilateral hearing loss

The prevalence of congenital, permanent, bilateral hearing loss is 1.2 per 1000 neonates.

No study has yet addressed the question of the relative prevalence of the various types of hearing impairment .

The most common type of hearing impairment in childhood is transient conductive hearing loss due to a tympanic effusion. 10% to 30% of children suffer from this problem before their third birthday, with a prevalence as high as 8%. Congenital, permanent, bilateral hearing loss is much rarer, with a prevalence of 1.2 per 1000 children. In adulthood, the most common type of hearing impairment is the sensorineural hearing loss of old age , which affects 40% of all persons aged 65 or older. The next most common types are permanent conductive or combined hearing loss due to chronic otitis media and hearing impairment due to acoustic trauma .

How To Get Help

There are two main types of hearing loss, conductive and ...

If you or a loved one has a hearing loss, visit our directory of consumer-reviewed hearing clinics to find a professional right away. He or she will investigate the cause and suggest treatment options to suit your needs. Many conductive and mixed hearing losses can be treated medically and nearly all types of hearing loss is treatable with hearing aids, implantable devices and/or assistive listening devices.

Don’t Miss: How To Say We In Sign Language

The Ear And How It Works

The ear has two main functions.

  • It receives sound and converts it into signals that the brain can understand.
  • It helps us to balance.
  • The two functions are closely related.

    Diagram of the ear

    The ear is the first part of the hearing system. The outside part of the ear catches sound waves and directs them down the ear canal. The waves then cause the eardrum to vibrate.

    These vibrations are passed across the middle ear by three tiny bones: the malleus, incus and stapes . The bones increase the strength of the vibrations before they pass through the oval window into the cochlea.

    The cochlea looks like a snails shell. It’s filled with fluid and contains thousands of tiny sound-sensitive cells. These cells are known as hair cells. The vibrations entering the cochlea cause the fluid and hair cells to move, much like the movement of seaweed on the seabed when waves pass over it.

    As the hair cells move, they create a small electrical charge or signal. The auditory nerve carries these signals to the brain where they are understood as sound.

    For an ear to work fully and pick up sound, all of these parts must work well.

    Using The Relay Service

    Individuals with hearing loss, including those who are deaf, now have many helpful devices available to them. Text telephones enable persons to type phone messages over the telephone network.

    The Telecommunications Relay Service makes it possible for TT users to communicate with virtually anyone via telephone through a communications assistant. Dial 711 to access all telecommunications relay services anywhere in the United States. The relay service is free.

    Recommended Reading: How To Turn On Hearing Aid Mode On Iphone

    Hearing Loss And Dementia

    Most people aged over 70 will have some hearing loss. They may consider themselves deaf, hard of hearing or having acquired hearing loss. This may be due to age-related damage to the ears, or other causes such as noise damage, infection, diseases or injury.

    People who are born deaf or become deaf at a young age may consider themselves as Deaf. They may use British Sign Language as their first language and identify with the Deaf community.

    How a person with hearing loss communicates will depend on:

    • the type of hearing loss they have
    • whether they use a hearing aid, speak British Sign Language, lip-read or a combination of these
    • their personal preference and life history.

    People with hearing loss are likely to experience more difficulties as a result of their dementia. They may already find it harder to communicate. Not being able to hear what is going on around them or hear other people speak can add to their confusion.

    Dementia and hearing loss can also make people feel socially isolated, so having both conditions at once can be very difficult for someone. This makes good communication even more important.

    Alzheimers Society has information in British Sign Language online.

    They Allow You To Tune In To Each Other

    Types of Hearing Loss

    All the extra communication opportunities hearing aids provide you allow you to become better tuned to your partners needs. Cohabitation becomes much easier when a couples understanding of each other improves. Plus, when your partner sees you making an effort to improve your hearing condition, theyre more likely to put in an effort also.

    Living with hearing loss requires extra effort. But it requires a lot less effort if you take the available options to improve your hearing. Doing so will not only relieve the stress you experience every day, but reduce the stress it places on your loved one. Constant communication is necessary in a relationship, and communication comes much easier when you can hear one another.

    Also Check: How To Pair Compilot With Hearing Aids

    Recommended Reading: How To Say Sorry In Sign Language

    Types Of Hearing Impairment

    Your hearing is possible when soundwaves are collected, changed to vibrations, and conducted as impulses to the brain.

    Each of the ears three partsthe external, middle, and inneris responsible for a part of that process.

    The external ear includes the outer part we can see and the ear canal that leads to the eardrum. Its responsible for collecting and conducting the soundwaves.

    The middle ear is a closed chamber behind the eardrum that includes bones called ossicles that transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear.

    The inner ear contains sound receptors in the form of microscopic hair cells that are bathed in a fluid. Movement of the ossicles stimulates the hair cells, which in turn activate the hearing nerve endings that send an electrical impulse to the brain.

    Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

    Sudden sensorineural hearing loss may occur very suddenly or over the course of a few days. It is imperative to see an otologist immediately. A delay in treating this condition will decrease the chance that medications might help improve the problem.

    Hearing Loss: Why Choose Johns Hopkins?

    Recommended Reading: Hot Compress For Earache

    A Complete Guide To The Different Types Of Hearing Loss

    If youre unfamiliar with the science behind hearing loss, you may not realize that not everyones hearing loss is created equal. In fact, there are three different types: conductive, sensorineural , and mixed. The main difference between them is the physical location of the problem within the ear.

    If you dont believe youre experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, its still important to understand each type so that you can take proper preventative measures. If you do think you might have hearing loss, this guide can help you better understand how and why your hearing healthcare professional might recommend certain devices to fit your hearing needs.

    Types Of Hearing Loss

    73 best images about ASL Infographics on Pinterest ...

    A hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear or auditory system is not working in the usual way.

    Outer EarThe outer ear is made up of:

    • the part we see on the sides of our heads, known as pinna
    • the ear canal
    • the eardrum, sometimes called the tympanic membrane, which separates the outer and middle ear

    Middle EarThe middle ear is made up of:

    • the eardrum
    • three small bones called ossicles that send the movement of the eardrum to the inner ear

    Inner EarThe inner ear is made up of:

    • the snail shaped organ for hearing known as the cochlea
    • the semicircular canals that help with balance
    • the nerves that go to the brain

    Auditory NerveThis nerve sends sound information from the ear to the brain.

    Auditory SystemThe auditory pathway processes sound information as it travels from the ear to the brain so that our brain pathways are part of our hearing.

    There are four types of hearing loss:
    • Conductive Hearing LossHearing loss caused by something that stops sounds from getting through the outer or middle ear. This type of hearing loss can often be treated with medicine or surgery.
    • Sensorineural Hearing LossHearing loss that occurs when there is a problem in the way the inner ear or hearing nerve works.
    • Mixed Hearing LossHearing loss that includes both a conductive and a sensorineural hearing loss.
    The degree of hearing loss can range from mild to profound:
    • Mild Hearing LossA person with a mild hearing loss may hear some speech sounds but soft sounds are hard to hear.

    Don’t Miss: How To Pair Compilot With Hearing Aids

    How The Ear Works

    Hearingloss can affect anyone, whether it be permanent or temporary. For manyindividuals, deterioration of their hearing occurs as they age. To understandhearing loss, and why it can happen, you first need to know how the ear works.

    Consistingof three major parts the inner, middle, and outer ear your ability to hearbegins with sound waves passing through your outer ear. This movement createsvibrations within your eardrum, a passageway of sorts between your outer andmiddle ear. Then, the eardrum and three small bones the malleus, incus, andstapes amplify the vibrations.

    Theamplified waves enter the inner ear and pass through the cochlea. Nerve cellswithin the cochlea then turn the vibrations into signals which are transmittedand converted into sounds within the brain.

    Recommended Reading: How To Say Vagina In Sign Language

    How Can We Help Hearing Impaired

    Communicating with People with Hearing Loss

  • Face the hearing-impaired person directly, on the same level and in good light whenever possible.
  • Do not talk from another room.
  • Speak clearly, slowly, distinctly, but naturally, without shouting or exaggerating mouth movements.
  • Say the persons name before beginning a conversation.
  • You May Like: Which Composer Experienced Hearing Loss During His Lifetime

    Read Also: How To Pair Compilot With Hearing Aids

    Unilateral And Bilateral Deafness

    Single-sided deafness , or unilateral deafness, refers to hearing impairment in just one ear, while bilateral deafness is hearing impairment in both.

    People with a unilateral hearing impairment may find it hard to carry on a conversation if the other person is on their affected side. Pinpointing the source of a sound may be more difficult, when compared with those who can hear well in both ears. Understanding what others are saying when there is a lot of environmental noise might be hard.

    With little to no background noise, a person with unilateral deafness has virtually the same communicative abilities as a person with functional hearing in both ears.

    Babies born with unilateral deafness tend to have developmental speech delays. They may find it harder to concentrate when they go to school. Social activities may be more challenging than it is for children with no hearing problems.

    The symptoms of hearing impairment depend on its cause. Some people are born without being able to hear, while others suddenly become deaf due to an accident or illness. For most people, symptoms of deafness progress gradually over time.

    Some conditions may have hearing loss as a symptom, such as tinnitus or stroke.

    The Main Types Of Deafness

    Types & Categories of Hearing Loss
    • Sensorineural deafness, or nerve deafness as it’s sometimes called, is a hearing loss in the inner ear. This usually means that the cochlea isn’t working effectively. Sensorineural deafness is permanent.
    • Conductive deafness means that sound can’t pass efficiently through the outer and middle ear into the inner ear. This is often caused by blockages such as wax in the outer ear, or fluid in the middle ear . Glue ear is a very common condition, especially in pre-school children. Conductive deafness is usually temporary, but it can be permanent in some cases.

    It’s possible for children to have a combination of sensorineural and conductive deafness. This is known as mixed deafness. One example of mixed deafness is when someone has glue ear as well as sensorineural deafness.

    Deafness in one ear only is known as unilateral deafness , which can also be referred to as one-sided hearing loss or single-sided deafness .

    Very few deaf children have no useful hearing. Most deaf children can hear some sounds at certain frequencies and loudness, and with the use of hearing aids or implants they are often able to hear more sounds.

    Read Also: How To Pair Phonak Compilot With Tv Link

    How Can I Better Communicate With Someone With A Hearing Loss

    Hearing aids are beneficial in many situations. However, there are some listening events where hearing aids alone cannot provide enough benefit. In those situations, communication partners can help the person with hearing loss be more successful in hearing. Remember, communication involves at least two individuals: a talker who sends the message, and a listener who receives the message. You, as a member of this communication pair, can improve the conversation by following a few simple strategies.

    Tinnitus Is Often Associated With Hearing Loss

    Tinnitus means a sensation of noises in the ears or head in the absence of any environmental sounds. These sounds can range from ringing, buzzing, whooshing, whistling, roaring, humming or cricket sounds.

    Tinnitus is not an illness or disease. Some of the triggers of tinnitus include middle ear infections and damage to the ear from loud noises. Tinnitus may occur on its own, or in conjunction with hearing loss.

    You May Like: Connecting Phonak To Iphone

    Lip Reading And Sign Language

    Hearing loss can sometimes affect your speech, as well as your ability to understand other people. Many people with significant hearing loss learn to communicate in other ways instead of, or as well as, spoken English.

    For people who experience hearing loss after they’ve learnt to talk, lip-reading can be a very useful skill. Lip-reading is where you watch a persons mouth movements while they’re speaking, to understand what they’re saying.

    For people born with a hearing impairment, lip-reading is much more difficult. Those who are born with a hearing impairment often learn sign language, such as British Sign Language , which is a form of communication that uses hand movements and facial expressions to convey meaning.

    BSL is completely different from spoken English and has its own grammar and syntax . Other types of sign language include Signed English and Paget Gorman Signed Speech.

    More articles

    Popular Articles