Having trouble hearing is common, especially as you get older. In South Africa, about 1 out of 5 people have some degree of hearing loss. This condition becomes even more common with age, with as many as half of adults over the age of 75 losing some or all of their hearing.
Signs of hearing loss include:
Tinnitus can be an early sign of hearing loss. This symptom occurs when you notice a ringing, roaring, buzzing, or hissing sound in your ear.
Hearing loss often occurs when loud sounds damage cells within the ear. This damage can build up over time, leading many older adults to have trouble hearing. If you have been exposed to loud sounds — for example, you work on a construction site or ride a motorcycle— you may be more likely to experience hearing loss.
Ear problems such as too much earwax or a hole in your eardrum may lessen your hearing.
Some diseases can cause hearing loss, including high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, infection, brain injuries, or stroke. Medications used to treat infections, heart disease, or cancer can also affect your hearing.
Your genes also affect your ability to hear. You may have an increased risk of experiencing hearing problems if you have a family history of the condition.
Your doctor can examine the inside of your ear to look for any obvious problems that might be causing hearing loss. They can also administer different types of tests to measure your hearing abilities or determine which part of your ear is damaged.
There are many possible consequences of hearing loss. If you have this condition, you may:
Hearing problems can worsen over time if you don’t get proper treatment, so it’s important to not ignore this issue. Additionally, if you suddenly lose all of your hearing overnight or within a couple of days, you may be experiencing a medical emergency — seek medical care right away. Hearing loss may be treated by an ear, nose, and throat doctor or by an audiologist.
Hearing loss can often be improved with hearing aids or assistive listening devices, which help amplify sound. Severe hearing loss can sometimes be managed with a cochlear implant, a device that sends sound signals directly to the nerve that connects your ear to your brain.
Some medications or surgeries can also help reverse some types of hearing loss.
You can deal with hearing loss during conversations using strategies such as:
Protect your hearing with earplugs or earmuffs when you expect to be around a lot of noise. Don’t listen to music or watch TV at a high volume. If you spend a lot of time in loud environments, get your hearing tested regularly.