Hearing Loss Is Avoidable Don’t Settle For Less
Life in today’s world has become considerably louder with the increase in the number of cars and lorries on the roads, more powerful sound systems in the home, cinemas and theaters and the constant sounds from industrial plants and electrical equipment. The increase in volume is responsible for a corresponding increase in the number of Americans that are deaf or suffer from some hearing loss, which now stands at 28 million.
Fortunately a lot of hearing loss can be prevented or delayed. The advancement of the hearing aids that are available and the improvement of medical treatment is helping to restore people’s hearing more than ever before.
Hearing loss sufferers are becoming younger as more people become exposed to dangerous sound levels. The number of Americans that are living with irreversible damage to their hearing from dangerous noise levels is around 10 million, and 30 million are exposed to damaging levels of noise every day.
Men and women aged 45 ? 64 suffer the most hearing loss with 365% decline in the hearing in men and 85% in women. Thankfully hearing loss caused by middle ear infections in children, other infections and noise levels, can be prevented.
Experts agree hearing tests should begin as early as possible straight after birth. A new inexpensive test for newborns, called otoacoustic, is now available and emissions can accurately detect any problems. A baby will already be developing language skills during the first six months of their life and hence early diagnosis of hearing problems can ensure these first six months are as beneficial as possible.
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. Hearing occurs because nerves transport electrical signals to the brain from cells that vibrate inside the cochlea. It is not possible for these cells to be repaired if they are damaged or if they die.
Many people who damage their ears may end up suffering from tinnitus, a high pitched constant ringing in their ears. Many people including most of the 40 million Americans who have tinnitus are able to get on their lives.
Some people describe their tinnitus as not too much discomfort. For others the sounds are a constant barrage of nerve wrecking discomfort. No outright cure has been found for tinnitus, but relief is available and can helps over 80% of the severe cases estimated at 10 million sufferers.
William Shatner, known to many as Captain Kirk from Star Trek, admitted that the torment he suffered from a severe case of tinnitus made him consider suicide. He suspects that the explosions during the making of a Star Trek movie might have been responsible for his tinnitus.
There are many ways to stop hearing loss from occurring. In many situations you should wear protective earplugs. Temporary hearing loss can be caused by noise over 90 decibels for a long period of time and this can be from house hold equipment such as lawnmowers. 100 decibels of sound from work equipment is able to damage hearing in 15 minutes unless protection is worn. Music concerts and racing cars regularly exceed 110 decibels which is enough to cause permanent hearing loss.
Hearing damage can be caused by ear infections if they are not treated early. Occasional ear infections are pain free and without any fever. No other symptoms apart from a loss of hearing may be present. Any hearing loss should be followed up with a visit to the doctor and a hearing test should be booked.
Detailed tinnitus cure resources can be found there. Help on ear tinnitus is easy to get.
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