WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HEARING LOSS?

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HEARING LOSS?

·         Difficulty understanding words, specially in background noise or crowdie area.

·         Ask people to repeat themselves.

·         Finding it hard to keep with a conversation.

·         Difficulty hearing other and misunderstanding what they say.

·         Ringing in ear (Tinnitus).

·         Listening to music, radio or watching TV with higher volume.

·         Difficulty hearing people on phone.

·         Headache.

·         You think that other people are mumbling or out speaking clearly.

·         Finding speech unclear.

·         Hearing is worse when sound comes from one side.

·         Fail to hear someone talking from behind.

·         Dread going to noisy parties and restaurants?

·         Turn off the volume on the TV or car radio?

·         Have trouble hearing in groups.

Symptoms of Hearing Loss in Children

·         Has difficulty understanding what people are saying.

·         Limited or poor or no speech.

·         Fail to respond his/her name.

·         Speaks differently than other children of his age.

·         Fail to respond conversation or answer appropriately.

·         Difficulty in learning.

·         Show sign of behavioural problems or social difficulties.

·         Do not seek out or detect where sound is coming from.

·         Respond in appropriately to questions.

·         Say what, several time.

·         Has speech or language delay or problem in articulation.

·         Do not follow simple commands or understand simple directions.

·         Do not react to voices.

·         Still babbles what not moving to more understandable speech.

What are the common causes of hearing loss?

·         Excessive exposure of loud noise

·         Stroke

·         Ototoxic drugs like Asprin

·         Heridity

·         Infection of ear canal or middle ear

·         Hypertension

·         Perforation of Scarring of ear drum

·         Smoking

·         Excessive wax is the most common cause of the hearing loss

·         Hole in ear drum or traumatic brain injury to the middle ear also cause hearing loss

·         Ageing (Age related loss is called presvyacusis)

·         Diabetes is known for sensori-neural hearing loss

What are the prevention of hearing loss?

·         Protect your hearing during loud event like gigs or sports event and night clubs.

·         Families with a history of hearing loss should be monitoring their babies hearing.

·         Noise exposure is also an issue for babies and children. Avoid loud noises, noise is probably loud enough to damage your hearing if you can’t hear what people nearby are saying.

·         Health hearing, life style begin even begins before conception and pregnant mother should avoid alcohol and other drugs.

·         Avoid medication that may be harmful to your hearing. Be aware of drugs that causes hearing loss like Asprin etc.

·         Don’t listen music at 60% of the maximum volume. If you are using ear phones, limit them to an hour.

·         Smoking is a risk factor for hearing loss because tobacco, cigarettes contain nicotine that damage the hear cells in the ear.

·         If you are working/exposed to loud noise through your working hours, take a precautions or seek to your department manager to provide hearing precautions such as ear plugs or ear muffs.

·         Children are also exposed to loud noise like noisy toys or a noisy environment.

·         Get a hearing test as soon as possible if you worried you might be losing your hearing.