Things around us are getting louder with more traffic on the roads and in the skies, louder stereos, rock concerts and sound systems in the cinemas and our homes are contributing to a higher volume level of our daily lives. This increase has contributed to the number of Americans that are either deaf or hard of hearing which stands at over 28 million.
Luckily, many forms of hearing loss can be delayed or completely prevented. Medical treatments have improved and the hearing aids that are available today are more comfortable and more effective than in the past.
More young people are suffering from hearing loss as the amount of dangerous sound levels in our lives increases. Around 30 million Americans are being exposed to damaging noise levels and 10 million are said to have already been victim to irreversible damage caused by dangerous nose levels.
The age group with the biggest decline in hearing is people between the ages of 45 and 64 with 85% loss amongst women and 365% loss amongst men. Thankfully hearing loss caused by middle ear infections in children, other infections and noise levels, can be prevented.
Regular hearing tests are recommended to prevent unnecessary hearing loss, starting at birth. Otocoustic emissions is a new, inexpensive technique that can accurately detect any problems that may exist in newborn babies. Language skills begin to develop in the first six months after birth and by diagnosing any problems as early as possible will give a child the best opportunity for healthy development.
Hearing is due to the miraculous process of turning sound waves into vibrations by collecting the sound at the outer ear and channeling the sound to the middle and inner ear where the ear drum and small bones vibrate. Tiny cells shaped like hairs convert vibrations within the cochlea into electrical nerve signals which are then sent to the brain. These cells are irreplaceable and as such if they die they cannot be grown back.
One problem associated with hearing damage is tinnitus which is a high pitched or buzzing noise in a person's ears which is actually an illusion. It is estimated that 40 million Americans have some form of tinnitus, but thankfully the majority can learn to live with it.
Some people actually find the sounds they hear to be soothing. For many, the discomfort is too annoying and can really affect their lives. Till now no cure for tinnitus has been found but luckily 80% of all severe cases can receive treatment as a form of relief.
The actor William Shatner who starred as Captain James T Kirk in Star Trek was tormented by tinnitus and even considered suicide. He believes his condition may have been caused by the number of explosions he was in close proximity to during the filming of Star Trek.
You can prevent hearing loss in several ways. You can save your hearing by wearing protective earplugs. Exposure to any sounds above 90 decibels from thing like electric drills and motorcycles for a long period can cause a temporary loss of hearing. Without protection its possible to suffer hearing damage in 15 minutes if using equipment that produces 100 decibels of sound. Anything above 110 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss and industrial machinery and most music concerts typically exceed this level.
Treat any ear infections as soon as they develop. Occasionally some ear infections are present without any pain. The only symptom may be hearing loss. It is therefore important to discuss any hearing problems with a doctor and take a hearing test.
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When you would like to get more information on tinnitus retraining therapy check out this site. Expert resources on tinnitus causes are located on that site.
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