HEARING LOSS

You may have hearing loss, and not even be aware of it. People of all ages experience gradual hearing loss, often due to the natural aging process or long exposure to loud noise. Other causes of hearing loss include viruses or bacteria, heart conditions or stroke, head injuries, tumors, and certain medications. Treatment for hearing loss will depend on your diagnosis.

How does the hearing sense work?

Hearing is a complex and intricate process. The ear is made up of three sections: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. These parts work together so you can hear and process sounds. The outer ear, or pinna (the part you can see), picks up sound waves and directs them into the outer ear canal.

These sound waves travel down the ear canal and hit the eardrum, which causes the eardrum to vibrate. When the eardrum vibrates, it moves three tiny bones in your middle ear.  The middle ear is a small air-filled space between the eardrum and the inner ear. These bones form a chain and are called the hammer (or malleus), anvil (or incus), and stirrup (or stapes). The movement of these bones transmits and amplifies the sound waves toward the inner ear.

The third bone in the chain, the stapes, interfaces with fluid which fills the hearing portion of the inner ear -- the cochlea. The cochlea is lined with cells that have thousands of tiny hairs on their surfaces. As the fluid wave travels through the cochlea, it causes the tiny hairs to move. The hairs change the mechanical wave into nerve signals. The nerve signals are then transmitted to your brain, which interprets the sound.



What are some signs of hearing loss?



Hearing loss is an invisible disability.  It most often develops over several years, slowly affecting quality of life and creating communication problems with family, colleagues and friends.  Hearing loss may occur so gradually that you may not be aware that it is happening.  Signs of hearing loss include the following:

• asking people to repeat what they said 


• ringing, buzzing, hissing or roaring sounds in the ears


• misunderstanding conversations


• staying at home to avoid social situations


• perceiving that people "mumble"


• undue fatigue and stress at the end of the day


• turning up the volume on the TV, radio or personal listening device


• difficulty  understanding speech in a noisy environment


• difficulty understanding speech in meetings or religious services

What can I do to improve my hearing?



Hearing loss not only affects you , but the ones you love, it can isolate you from family, friends and social activities.  It may hinder your performance at work.  At ENT Physicians of North Mississippi our audiologists can help you  manage  your hearing loss.  Our audiologists are knowledgeable of existing and emerging technologies and strategies that can make communication easier.  They will take the time to answer your questions and ensure that your concerns are addressed.  If you are a hearing aid candidate we offer specialized, individual hearing solutions, in a variety of styles and technology options. 



Below you will find some techniques which may make communication less difficult:

• Eliminate or lower unnecessary noises around you.


• Let friends and family know about your hearing loss and ask them to speak slowly and more clearly.


• Ask people to face you when they are speaking to you, so you can watch their faces and see their expressions.


• Utilize sound amplifying devices on phones.


• Use personal listening systems to reduce background noise.

Tips to maintain hearing health

• If you work in noisy places or commute to work in noisy traffic or construction, choose quiet leisure activities instead of noisy ones.


• Develop the habit of wearing earplugs when you know you will be exposed to noise for a long time.


• Earplugs can reduce the volume of sound reaching the ear to a safer level.


• Try not to use several noisy machines at the
  
  same time.


• Try to keep television sets, stereos and headsets low in volume.

 Reference: American Academy of Otolaryngology. Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Hearing-Loss.cfm