Hearing Loss Unavoidable?

The Ear Company

“Everything related to hearing.”

It is absolutely unavoidable. No matter what we think, no matter how hard we try to prevent it from happening, it happens. Our hearing will change whether we like it or not. Certainly it is important to do all we can to protect our hearing but change is inevitable. Our hearing deteriorates for a variety or reasons, noise exposure plays an undeniable role but so does genetics and the process of deterioration that takes place over time.  

The complication with time-based deterioration is that this is typically a slow process that creeps up on us. Most often it is others that recognize the changes in our ability to hear before we do. I am of the opinion that we base normal upon ourselves and this is one of the reasons that we are not the best judge of our own hearing ability. 

Some of the signs of hearing loss are, difficulty hearing in a background of noise, loss of clarity more than volume, speech sounding more and more like a mumble, and television being turned louder but never getting clearer. These are just some of the signs of hearing loss. Rather than being the last to know that your hearing is changing it is wise to have that hearing test, be informed, know where you stand and have the ability to recognize change and deal with it sooner rather than later. The longer one waits to do something about poor hearing the poorer their outcomes are. 

Take it upon yourself to be the first to know and understand your hearing needs rather than waiting for others to point you in the right direction. Have your hearing tested, be educated, and make decisions for yourself based on an accurate understanding of what your needs are rather than misunderstanding, misinterpreting and feeling less than effective while engaged in the process of communication.

By Sanjeev Sukumaran Au.D.

May is Better Speech and Hearing Month

May is Better Speech and Hearing month, a time to consider the importance of the ability to communicate effectively.  Hearing is a key component of communication. Without being able to hear, we are just talking. When we are able to hear and respond appropriately, we are interacting and communicating.  The effects of hearing loss may not be as readily understood as some of the other disabilities.  Hearing loss may not be visibly identified and therefore is an invisible disability. 

What I know to be true with my patients is that reduced hearing has a significant adverse effect on understanding speech. When one struggles with understanding, they become self-conscious in environments where they have to communicate interactively. The bright and brilliant can loose self-confidence simply because they are not receiving a clear message. It is understood that for those with a hearing loss it can be fatiguing to simply follow a conversation over a period of time. This is true because these individuals are using a lot more of their intellectual resources to make sense of a conversation with missing pieces.  When you add a background of noise for these people a tough listening situation can get to be impossible. 

Those with hearing loss can compensate in many different ways, some might overcompensate by dominating a conversation not allowing others to define the direction of the communication. The majority of others, however tend to withdraw from social or difficult listening situations because they feel inadequate. The potential to feel a sense of loss and isolation is significant. It is difficult at best when a naturally social individual withdraws from taking part in one of life’s joys.

I have seen first hand the effects of better hearing allowing my patients to reconnect with family and friends. I have had patients and their families talk about how better hearing and improved communication can be life changing in a positive way. In the context of my elderly patients I often talk to them about the importance of conversation in their lives. We may have limitations to do physically what we once did but we can still have life changing and positive interactions with family and friends simply by having a conversation. May is better Speech and hearing month perhaps it is a good time to consider how well you really hear.