HEARING LOSS
Hearing loss affects about 10% of the population and possibly as many as 50% of people aged over 65 years. For most people it is a very slow process that creeps up on them. At first they think that other people mumble, that children speak too quickly, and that television is not clear, or that background noise in social group situations drowns out the words. Gradually people realise that it is not others who are not speaking properly but their own hearing that is at fault.
Hearing is an important body sense. It is an important element of human communication; to be able to chat with our friends, to hear the bank teller and the shop keeper, to hear the speaker at a meeting, to hear the minister at church, to follow our favourite TV programs, music, to hear our children and grandchildren tell us about their day, to hear the birds chirping and to hear soft endearments from a partner. Such simple pleasures in life, which we often take for granted, are made difficult when hearing loss is present.
Hearing loss is an invisible condition and because it often develops so gradually, it is difficult to identify that you may have some hearing loss until it is quite advanced. Some of the early signs of hearing loss are:
• People seem to mumble and are difficult to hear
• TV has to be turned up louder than others would like it
• You have to ask people to repeat
• It is difficult to hear in background noise
• You have trouble understanding speech
• You can hear the voice but can’t make out what was said
• You hear the joke but miss the punch line
• You have trouble hearing over a distance, or when others do not speak directly at you
Apart from the frequent frustration, hearing loss can also cause embarrassment when you get something wrong and you respond incorrectly in conversation. Hearing loss impedes one’s ability to communicate and this leads to being “cut-off” and becoming isolated. Because it is more difficult to communicate, it is often easier to avoid difficult hearing situations. People who can’t hear the sermon stop going to church. If they can’t hear properly they avoid meetings, sports events, public gatherings, parties, restaurants, family gatherings and many other enjoyable activities. It is not unusual for hearing impaired people to avoid all social contact and suffer the resultant reduced quality of life.
Hearing loss can be largely divided into two groups. Conductive loss: where there is some pathology in the outer/middle ear, and Sensori-neural loss: where there is some nerve damage to the cochlea or other nerve structures. Conductive losses are medically and/or surgically correctible and this is the appropriate method of management. Nerve-type hearing loss accounts for the vast majority of all hearing loss and is not medically or surgically correctable (except for cochlear implants in some selected cases). Most nerve hearing loss is permanent. As people get older a combination of factors contribute to hearing loss. A life time of use for a system that never switches off, as well as all the noise we are exposed to in daily living, plus effects from ear infections and other ear problems can all affect hearing and combine to leave one struggling to hear what is said.
Hearing aids offer significant benefit in most forms of hearing loss. They do not cure the problem, but go a long way to restoring one’s ability to hear. Modern hearing aids employ digital sound processing to ensure precise amplification of sounds at specific frequencies to match individual hearing requirements. Many models work automatically, and other by using some controls on the aids, or by using a remote control. Digital sound processing also allows hearing aids to analyse all incoming sound and to selectively amplify softer sounds, but not louder sounds, to achieve better speech clarity. Each person has hearing tests done prior to ordering hearing aids and then each hearing aid is individually programmed to the exact requirement. The latest generation of hearing aids is more precise and more effective than the aids of only a few years ago.
When one has a hearing loss in both ears it is important to have a hearing aid in each ear. Ears are designed to work as a team, both ears playing an important role in hearing and understanding. Where possible it is always better to have balanced hearing, which will ensure optimal speech clarity, especially in situations with background noise.
If you suspect you have a hearing problem you can arrange to have your hearing tested by a qualified Audiometrist, Hearing Aid Specialist or Audiologist. A referral is not required. You may prefer to go to your doctor who will examine your ears and then refer you to an appropriate hearing aid provider. It is important that you should see your doctor if you suffer with pain in your ears, any discharge from your ears, balance or giddiness problems, a feeling of blocked ears or a hearing loss that has come on suddenly you should see your doctor first. All children must see their doctor first. If the hearing tests show a medical problem, you will be referred to a medical practitioner. If not, your service provider will explain to you your need for hearing aids, what options you have and discuss styles and prices. There are many types and models of hearing aids available and your Audiometrist or Hearing Aid Specialist will help you to choose your best option.
For your best hearing health care all suitably qualified hearing aid practitioners will be a member of their professional association: An Audiometrist or Hearing Aid Specialist will be a member of ANZAI, and an Audiologist will be a member of the New Zealand Audiological Society. All three will be trained in the field of hearing testing and hearing aid fitting, and work to the ethical standards set out by their professional bodies.
HEARING LOSS
Hearing loss affects about 10% of the population and possibly as many as 50% of people aged over 65 years. For most people it is a very slow process that creeps up on them. At first they think that other people mumble, that children speak too quickly, and that television is not clear, or that background noise in social group situations drowns out the words. Gradually people realise that it is not others who are not speaking properly but their own hearing that is at fault.
Hearing is an important body sense. It is an important element of human communication; to be able to chat with our friends, to hear the bank teller and the shop keeper, to hear the speaker at a meeting, to hear the minister at church, to follow our favourite TV programs, music, to hear our children and grandchildren tell us about their day, to hear the birds chirping and to hear soft endearments from a partner. Such simple pleasures in life, which we often take for granted, are made difficult when hearing loss is present.
Hearing loss is an invisible condition and because it often develops so gradually, it is difficult to identify that you may have some hearing loss until it is quite advanced. Some of the early signs of hearing loss are:
• People seem to mumble and are difficult to hear
• TV has to be turned up louder than others would like it
• You have to ask people to repeat
• It is difficult to hear in background noise
• You have trouble understanding speech
• You can hear the voice but can’t make out what was said
• You hear the joke but miss the punch line
• You have trouble hearing over a distance, or when others do not speak directly at you
Apart from the frequent frustration, hearing loss can also cause embarrassment when you get something wrong and you respond incorrectly in conversation. Hearing loss impedes one’s ability to communicate and this leads to being “cut-off” and becoming isolated. Because it is more difficult to communicate, it is often easier to avoid difficult hearing situations. People who can’t hear the sermon stop going to church. If they can’t hear properly they avoid meetings, sports events, public gatherings, parties, restaurants, family gatherings and many other enjoyable activities. It is not unusual for hard of hearing people to avoid all social contact and suffer the resultant reduced quality of life.
Hearing loss can be largely divided into two groups. Conductive loss: where there is some pathology in the outer/middle ear, and Sensori-neural loss: where there is some nerve damage to the cochlea or other nerve structures. Conductive losses are medically and/or surgically correctible and this is the appropriate method of management. Nerve-type deafness accounts for the vast majority of all deafness and is not medically or surgically correctable (except for cochlear implants in some selected cases). Most nerve deafness is permanent. As people get older a combination of factors contribute to hearing loss. A life time of use for a system that never switches off, as well as all the noise we are exposed to in daily living, plus effects from ear infections and other ear problems can all affect hearing and combine to leave one struggling to hear what is said.
Hearing aids offer significant benefit in most forms of hearing loss. They do not cure the problem, but go a long way to restoring one’s ability to hear. Modern hearing aids employ digital sound processing to ensure precise amplification of sounds at specific frequencies to match individual hearing requirements. Many models work automatically, and other by using some controls on the aids, or by using a remote control. Digital sound processing also allows hearing aids to analyse all incoming sound and to selectively amplify softer sounds, but not louder sounds, to achieve better speech clarity. Each person has hearing tests done prior to ordering hearing aids and then each hearing aid is individually programmed to the exact requirement. The latest generation of hearing aids is more precise and more effective than the aids of only a few years ago.
When one has a hearing loss in both ears it is important to have a hearing aid in each ear. Ears are designed to work as a team, both ears playing an important role in hearing and understanding. Where possible it is always better to have balanced hearing, which will ensure optimal speech clarity, especially in situations with background noise.
If you suspect you have a hearing problem you can arrange to have your hearing tested by a qualified Audiometrist, Hearing Aid Specialist or Audiologist. A referral is not required. You may prefer to go to your doctor who will examine your ears and then refer you to an appropriate hearing aid provider. It is important that you should see your doctor if you suffer with pain in your ears, any discharge from your ears, balance or giddiness problems, a feeling of blocked ears or a hearing loss that has come on suddenly you should see your doctor first. All children must see their doctor first. If the hearing tests show a medical problem, you will be referred to a medical practitioner. If not, your service provider will explain to you your need for hearing aids, what options you have and discuss styles and prices. There are many types and models of hearing aids available and your Audiometrist or Hearing Aid Specialist will help you to choose your best option.
For your best hearing health care all suitably qualified hearing aid practitioners will be a member of their professional association: An Audiometrist or Hearing Aid Specialist will be a member of the Academy of New Zealand Audiometrists Incorporated, and an Audiologist will be a member of the New Zealand Audiological Society. All three will be trained in the field of hearing testing and hearing aid fitting, and work to the ethical standards set out by their professional bodies.