Audiology

Hearing Health

How Do We Hear?

1. The sound waves are collected by the outer ear (pinna) and travel down the ear canal to the eardrum.
2. The sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate and this sets the three tiny bones (ossiscles) in the middle ear into motion.
3. The motion of those three bones causes the fluid in the inner ear’s hearing organ (cochlea) to move.
4. The fluid movement causes the hair cells in the cochlea to move and this is converted into electrical impulses.
5. These electrical impulses are transmitted to the hearing nerve and up to the brain where they are interpreted as sound.

About Hearing Loss

It is a common misconception that people only develop hearing loss as a result of getting older. There are many factors that can contribute to hearing loss at any age. Hearing loss is more than a decrease in a person’s ability to detect sound and may result in:

• Difficulty understanding words or following conversations, especially over the phone or in group settings
• Turning the volume of the television or radio to levels that make others uncomfortable
• Withdrawal from conversations or avoidance of social gatherings
• Tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, roaring, or hissing in the ears)
• Sensitivity to certain sounds
• Fullness or pain in the ears
• Dizziness

Ask Yourself These Questions

• Do you have difficulty understanding soft voices, especially those of women and children?
• Do you often say “What?” to others or ask them to repeat themselves?
• Do others mention to you that the volume of your television or radio is loud?
• Do you have trouble understanding what others are saying in noisy environments such as at a social gathering or in restaurants?

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, consider contacting your Primary Care Provider to see if a referral for a hearing evaluation with an Audiologist is needed.

If you have experienced a sudden change in hearing or onset of ear pressure, ear pain, ear drainage, dizziness, or ringing in the ears, please contact your primary care provider as soon as possible.

Did You Know?

• Hearing loss is the third most common health condition in the U.S., only behind arthritis and heart disease.
• Tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, roaring, or hissing in the ears) is a common problem that affects 1 in 5 individuals – about 45 million adults aged 50 and over.
• Hearing loss may be mistaken for confusion or memory issues.
• Hearing loss may be an early warning sign for other health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
• Untreated hearing loss has been liked to cognitive decline, social isolation, anxiety, depression, and fatigue.
• People with hearing loss wait an average of 7 years before seeking help.
• 9 in 10 hearing device users report improvements in their quality of life.