Hearing Loss DOES NOT discriminate!

Hearing loss can occur in any person regardless of race, gender or age. It is estimated internationally that 10% of the population has some form of hearing loss, while this percentage increases dramatically in old age. Many millions of school-aged children have hearing loss that can affect their speech development and education. Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent, mild or severe. Fortunately, in most cases, much can be done to improve a person's auditory inability to communicate. For many, acquiring a hearing aid is the first step in restoring hearing and reintegrating the individual into society.

Warning Signs of Hearing Loss

Difficulty following conversations, especially when there is noise in the environment
Frequent appeal to interlocutors to repeat what they said
Misunderstanding the content of someone's speech
Difficulty communicating on the phone
Turn up the volume on the TV or radio
A feeling that our interlocutors are 'chewing' their words
Difficulty hearing certain sounds or frequencies
Agreeing or nodding in conversations where you are unsure of what has been said
Leaving conversations because they are difficult or stressful for you to follow
By watching people's lips to understand what they are saying
Straining to listen to or watch a conversation

Diagnosis of Hearing Loss

Early medical diagnosis after a complete audiological examination gives you the possibility of immediate treatment in the event that any degree of hearing loss is confirmed. The following tests are the standard procedure of an audit.

Acousometric procedure. A special device (audiometer) is used to measure the lowest tones you can hear. You will hear various tones/frequencies, from low to high, at various levels. The range of these frequencies includes all the sounds heard in everyday speech. The hearing care professional will determine, based on your answers, the lowest intensities you can hear at each frequency and record them on a graph called an audiogram. The audiogram helps detect the type and degree of hearing loss you have.

Tympanography. These tests measure the ability of the middle ear to transmit sound. They may detect a build-up of fluid in the middle ear space, a perforation of the eardrum, or other problems related to the middle ear.

Speech Process. During the test, you will not only be asked to respond to various sounds but you will also hear and have to respond to speech either in the form of words or sentences. This provides experts with information about your ability to detect and distinguish speech.

Hearing self-assessment

Not sure about the condition of your hearing? This short questionnaire can give you an idea of ​​whether you have hearing loss. Answer yes or no.

Do you hear the speech but have difficulty understanding the words?
Do long conversations make you feel tired or annoyed?
Do people seem to mumble or speak more softly than before?
Do you often need to ask others to repeat what they said?
Are you piecing together the meaning of speech without hearing all the words?
Do you turn up the volume on the radio or TV beyond what others can hear?
Is it hard to talk on the phone or on your cell phone?
Do you hear better in one ear than the other?
Is it harder to hear when there is ambient noise?
Do you strain to hear in crowded places or restaurants?
Were you exposed to any significant noise at work, leisure, or in your military service?
Do you have difficulty following dialogue in the cinema or theatre?
Are male voices easier to understand than female voices?
Do you often misunderstand what others say?
Is it sometimes difficult to understand the speaker in public speeches or services?
Does your hearing difficulty make you anxious or embarrassed in new situations?
Does hearing difficulty cause you to visit friends or family members less often than you used to?
Has someone you know suggested that you might have a hearing problem?
Many people can answer yes to at least one question. But if you answered yes to two or more, it's time for a more detailed investigation. A hearing care professional can give you an in-depth analysis of your hearing capabilities and options.

You may want to monitor your listening ability for a few days or a week. Track how many times you've had difficulty chatting, or how often you've asked someone to repeat. Ask a friend to adjust the TV volume to a comfortable level for them? is it loud enough for you to hear comfortably too? What do your answers tell you?