Understanding Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is one of those things that tends to creep up slowly. It often starts with asking people to repeat themselves occasionally or struggling to follow conversation in noisy places. Many people adapt without realising it, and so do the people around them, which is why it can go unaddressed for years.
If any of the following sound familiar, it might be worth getting your hearing checked:
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You often ask people to repeat themselves
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Conversations in groups or noisy places are hard to follow
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You find yourself watching people's faces to catch what they're saying
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People seem to mumble more than they used to
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The TV volume creeps up higher than others in the house would like
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Phone calls feel harder than they used to
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You hear a ringing or buzzing in your ears
A free hearing test is the simplest place to start. It takes about an hour and you'll come away knowing exactly where you stand.
What causes hearing loss?
There are several common causes, and often more than one plays a role.
Age
The most common cause by far. Gradual hearing loss as we get older is a natural process called presbycusis. It can't be reversed, but it can be managed well with the right support.
Noise
Prolonged exposure to loud noise, whether through work, hobbies or one-off events, can damage hearing over time. Sometimes even short exposure to very loud sound can have a lasting effect.
Earwax
A surprisingly common and very treatable cause. A build-up of wax can muffle sound significantly and is often mistaken for more serious hearing loss.
Ear infections
Infections in the middle ear can cause swelling and fluid build-up that affects how sound travels. Can usually be resolved with treatment.
Injury
Head trauma, a perforated eardrum, or sudden changes in air pressure can all affect hearing, sometimes temporarily and sometimes permanently.
Tinnitus
A ringing, buzzing or humming sound that seems to come from within the ear. It varies a lot from person to person and can be distressing, but it isn't dangerous. It often accompanies other types of hearing loss.
Medication
Some drugs, particularly certain antibiotics and cancer treatments, can affect the hair cells in the inner ear. This is known as ototoxic hearing loss.
Other conditions
Meningitis, Ménière's disease, otosclerosis and glue ear (common in children) can all cause hearing loss in different ways. Some genetic conditions can too.
Types of hearing loss
A hearing test will tell us not just how much hearing loss you have, but what type, which matters when it comes to finding the right solution.
Conductive hearing loss - Something is preventing sound from travelling properly through the outer or middle ear. Earwax, fluid, or a perforated eardrum are common culprits. Often treatable.
Sensorineural hearing loss - Damage to the hair cells in the cochlea, which send sound signals to the brain. This is the most common type in adults and is typically managed with hearing aids.
Mixed hearing loss - A combination of both types.
Auditory processing disorder - The ears work normally but the brain has difficulty interpreting what it hears. Less common, but worth knowing about.
Why it's worth acting sooner rather than later
Untreated hearing loss has a habit of affecting more than just your hearing. Conversations become harder to join, and social situations feel more tiring and less enjoyable. Relationships can become strained through the frustration that builds on both sides. Over time, isolation and low confidence can follow.
None of that is inevitable. Most people who come to us say they wished they'd done something about it sooner.
One important note - sudden hearing loss
If your hearing deteriorates rapidly over a matter of hours or days, please seek urgent medical attention. Sudden hearing loss is different from gradual loss and needs to be assessed quickly.
Ready to find out where you stand?
A free hearing test is the easiest first step. No commitment or pressure, just a clear picture of your hearing and honest advice about what to do about it. We can see you at our Grange-over-Sands or Edinburgh branches, or at home if that's easier.
Book a free hearing test or just get in touch if you'd like to chat first.
