March 3 is World Hearing Day, a reminder of how vital good hearing is to our overall health. Hearing loss contributes to a myriad of health problems, like dementia, falls, and depression. If you have not had a hearing exam in a while or if you are noticing a change in your hearing quality, the CNC Hearing and Balance audiologists can help.
People experiencing hearing loss sometimes act as if they don’t know we’re speaking to them but when we raise our voice, they tell us to stop talking so loud. It can cause confusion that can be easily settled with a visit to the audiologist for a hearing test. The most common type of hearing loss present in older adults is sensorineural hearing loss, a permanent condition that can have many causes, among them age and noise exposure. It usually develops gradually over a period of years. Recruitment is a product of sensorineural hearing loss. Simply put, recruitment is when sound is perceived as getting too loud too fast. While some sounds are inaudible, such as soft speech, slightly louder sounds, such as loud speech, can be uncomfortably loud. An audiologist can test one’s hearing sensitivity and any associated hearing problems, including recruitment. Other telltale signs of hearing loss include:
- often need people to repeat what they are saying have difficulty following conversations people sound muffled or like they’re mumbling
- have difficulty hearing in situations like parties or meetings
- have trouble hearing children and women.
- need your TV or radio turned up to high volume
- have ringing in your ears
- read lips or more intently watch people’s faces when they speak with you
Not treating hearing loss, particularly in the elderly, puts them at higher risk for cognitive decline, dementia, isolation, depression and even balance disorders. At CNC Hearing and Balance Center, we strongly recommend that if you’ve got hearing loss or you suspect an elderly person has hearing loss, they should be evaluated and at least go through a trial and an evaluation of some of the treatment strategies, including a review of the hearing devices that are now available.CNC Hearing and Balance Center can evaluate your hearing. Call 504-934-8320 to schedule your personal appointment.
