One in five Americans suffers from hearing loss. If you’re struggling to understand what your family members are saying or hear a constant ringing in your ears, you might need to see a professional. Here are a few common causes of hearing loss and what you can do if you’re having difficulty hearing.
Loud Noise
Hearing loss from exposure to loud noises can happen to anyone. It can occur over time, after repeated exposure to loud noise, or there can be one event that causes you to lose your hearing. That loss can be permanent or temporary. You might begin to notice that it’s difficult to hear people or you continue to turn up the television even though everyone else can hear it just fine.
10 million Americans have some form of hearing loss due to loud noises, so it’s extremely common. Sounds above a decibel (dBA) level of 85 can cause hearing loss, so do your best to avoid or mitigate exposure to these levels. Blasting music through headphones or going to a rock concert can expose you to sounds at 94-110 dBA, so keep the music turned down when listening through headphones and wear earplugs if you’re attending a show.
Also, the further you are from loud noise, the better, so don’t place yourself next to a giant speaker at the concert. If you notice signs of potential hearing loss, make an appointment with an audiologist at Hearing Health USA.
Earwax Buildup
Something as simple as earwax buildup could result in difficulty hearing. As it builds up, the earwax blocks the ear canal and makes it difficult for you to hear. Earwax protects the ear from damage or irritation and is normally cleared naturally, but if you’re obsessed with cleaning your ears with cotton swabs, you might be causing difficulties hearing. You could be pushing the earwax into the ear canal, creating a block.
This can cause hearing difficulties, tinnitus (phantom ringing or buzzing in the ears), or earache. Thankfully, there’s an easy solution to earwax buildup. An audiologist can take a look and easily remove any blockage that’s causing problems. Earwax buildup can happen to anyone, from young children to older adults, so be on the lookout for this problem.
Ruptured Eardrum
The tympanic membrane perforation separates the ear canal from the eardrum. When this tissue tears, it’s called a ruptured eardrum. If you’ve experienced a sudden loss of hearing, tinnitus, or vertigo, you may have a ruptured eardrum. It can be caused by an ear infection, acoustic trauma (a sudden loud noise), foreign objects (like a cotton swab), or head trauma.
Do what you can to prevent a ruptured eardrum. Don’t stick cotton swabs far into the ear and avoid loud noises. If you have an ear infection, get treatment right away. If your ruptured eardrum was caused by acoustic or head trauma, you may want to consult a personal injury lawyer in Rochester, NY. If someone is to blame for your loss of hearing, especially if it’s permanent, talk with a lawyer about filing a personal injury claim.
Age
The older you are, the more likely it is that you’ll begin to lose your hearing. As people age, the structures in the ear begin to change. Age-related hearing issues can begin as early as your thirties or forties. When you reach your fifties, you might need a hearing aid to continue to hear others. This is normal and there’s not much you can do to prevent age-related issues, but if you notice you’re having trouble hearing, schedule a hearing test so you can be informed and get the latest technology to improve your hearing.
Do what you can to prevent hearing issues. Be aware of the causes and don’t engage in any of the risk factors. Having your hearing tested regularly and visit an audiologist if necessary.
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