How to Recognize the Signs of Hearing Loss

(ARA) – If you couldn’t hear well, would you wait five to nine years or longer to address the problem? Many people do just that. The average age of first-time hearing aid users is 67, yet the Better Hearing Institute reports that nearly half of all people with hearing loss are younger than 55. Why the delay in seeking help?

"Many people with hearing difficulties aren't even aware they have a problem," says Dr. Barry Freeman, an audiologist at Starkey, a global hearing technology company. "Because the change happens over time, treatment may be delayed until the problem is fairly significant. By getting your hearing checked early and regularly, you should be able to treat the problem and find a solution that allows you to enjoy all the sounds of life that you love."

Freeman says the first step in treating hearing loss is to recognize its most common signs. If you or a loved one experiences the following, it might be time to contact a hearing care professional:

* Turning up the volume of the TV or radio.
* Problems hearing the doorbell or the telephone ringing.
* Difficulty hearing people calling and talking from behind you or in another room.
* Asking people to repeat themselves or saying "what?" frequently.
* Misunderstanding or "forgetting" what has been said.
* Often cupping hands behind the ears.

A Noisy World
Modern society has created a noisy world. From traffic to lawn equipment to kitchen appliances, a number of different things we hear every day expose our ears to damaging levels of noise. By age 20, we've lost the ability to perceive some of the sounds infants can hear. By the time we reach 30 or 40, subtle but significant losses have begun to occur. Once we reach our 80s, more than half of us suffer from significant hearing loss.

If you have a hearing problem, you aren't alone -- more than 31 million Americans suffer from hearing loss according to the Better Hearing Institute. Unfortunately, 80 percent of them do not seek help. Take the first step for you or your family member and visit a hearing care professional in your area for a hearing evaluation. You can find a professional near you at starkey.com. Your problem may be as simple as excessive earwax buildup or related to other medical causes. If you are diagnosed with a hearing impairment, you'll find that there are now more options than ever for treating hearing loss and protecting your hearing in the future.

The Right Solution
Every person has individual hearing needs and should work with a hearing care professional to find the best solution to your hearing problem. A professional can assess your hearing loss and fit you with the best hearing aid for your lifestyle. That means assessing both the style of the hearing aid as well as the technology level, since there are a number of options for both.

The good news is modern hearing devices are nothing like the hearing aids of your parents' generation. Today's instruments are sleek, sophisticated pieces of equipment scientifically engineered to deliver clear sound without constant manual adjustment or annoying feedback -- the whistling often associated with hearing aids.

For example, Starkey researches and develops hearing aids that are both nearly invisible and effective. These devices offer Active Feedback Intercept, a technology that eliminates feedback. Additionally, Directional Speech Detector helps you hear and understand speech better, even in noisy areas.

Hearing is an incredibly important part of communication and quality of life. If you or a loved one is having trouble hearing, depression and frustration can occur. It's important to get help today so you can hear well and enjoy your life. Visit www.starkey.com to take a simple, quick online hearing evaluation and to locate a hearing professional near you who can help you find the best hearing solution for you.

Courtesy of ARAcontent