It can be hard to tell when your hearing starts to decline. The volume of the world tends to turn down so slowly you don’t notice it happening.
Like any other part of your body, it’s vital to get your ears checked. Not only does hearing loss make it harder to participate in the world, but even mild loss can double your risk of developing dementia. Those with severe hearing loss have a five times higher risk.
Doctor Linda Leezack, a Toronto based audiologist, explained how people with hearing difficulties often unconsciously, or not, avoid social situations.
Audiologists are healthcare providers who specialize in hearing and balance disorders. They perform evaluations to check for hearing loss and can share information on ways to protect your hearing. If you have a balance issue, they can provide therapy to help you maintain your sense of equilibrium.
– Cleveland Clinic
“Imagine having to ask your friend to repeat themselves four or more times every single time they talk. It gets embarrassing and frustrating. Eventually, the effort may not seem worth the result,” Leezack said.
Hearing loss can cause tension with friends and family, especially when undiagnosed. Not being able to hear can be misinterpreted as disinterest or being ignored.
Types of Hearing Loss
There are three types of hearing loss. WHO defines them as:
- Conductive hearing loss. Caused by problems located in the ear canal or the middle ear which make it difficult for sound to be “conducted” through to the inner ear. Caused by a blockage or injury.
- Sensorineural hearing loss. Cause of hearing loss is located in the cochlea or the hearing nerve, or sometimes both. “Sensori-” relates to the cochlea which is a “sense organ”; “neural” relates to the hearing nerve. The most common form, it can be caused by aging, exposure to loud noise, injury, disease, some drugs, or genetics.
- Mixed hearing loss. Both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss are found in the same ear.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends getting your hearing checked at ages 50, 55, 60, and 65. Then get checked every one to three years after age 65.
Checks are not the same as tests. Also known as a screening, it’s a shorter test that indicates whether you need an in-depth test to determine your exact level of hearing.
If you notice that sounds are muffled, you have trouble understanding speech when there is background noise, or find yourself turning up the TV, it may be time to talk to your doctor.
Contact your doctor if you experience:
- A ringing, roaring, hissing, or buzzing in the ear (tinnitus).
- Ear pain, itching, or irritation.
- Pus or fluid leaking from the ear.
- A feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning (vertigo).
Your primary care physician can refer you to an audiologist, though be aware that audiology is not covered by provincial health insurance. Check your personal insurance for potential coverage.
Have a Costco membership? Costco’s Hearing Aid Centres offer free hearing tests, follow-up appointments, hearing aid cleanings, and more.
Some hearing aid companies and audiology clinics offer free hearing assessments. Always make sure you go to a clinic that you trust and keep in mind that companies may try to upsell you.
Take a Hearing Test
No online test can accurately diagnose hearing loss, but it can indicate if you’re in need of an audiology appointment.
WHO created an app, hearWHO, which can be used regularly as an effective screening tool. Early detection is key to successful rehabilitation.
If you don’t want to download an app, there are similar online tests available. The test below uses the same digits-in-noise design to measure how well you can parse out speech.
Want to check your hearing?
If you have AirPods, you may already have access to a hearing screening. The AirPods Pro 2 have firmware installed which can measure your hearing ability at different frequencies and volumes. Click here to learn how to take a hearing test using compatible earbuds.
Preventing Hearing Loss
Leezack recommends buying a pair of earplugs that you can carry with you when you know you’re going to be in a loud environment, like a sporting event or concert.
You should limit exposure to noise above 85 decibels for ear health. Most concerts average 115 decibels or more. “You’ll look a little stupid wearing ear plugs to a concert, but you’ll still be able to hear the music and it won’t cause as much damage,” she said.
It’s also important to stay up to date on your vaccinations. Contracting viruses like influenza, meningitis, cytomegalovirus, mumps, rubella, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus can cause hearing loss.
Curious about hearing aids in Canada?
Early detection of hearing loss is key. Some forms of loss are only temporary and can be reversed with treatment, such as antibiotics for a virus. If temporary loss is left untreated, it can become permanent.
If you’re missing parts of conversations, cranking up the volume, or just feeling out of the loop, don’t ignore it. A quick hearing check can give you direction. Stay ahead of hearing loss and hear the world loud and clear.
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The information provided on TheHealthInsider.ca is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. TheHealthInsider.ca advises consulting a medical professional or healthcare provider when seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.
