Hearing Testing and Health

Hearing Testing

and Health

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Over 360 million people worldwide are living with some form of hearing loss or tinnitus.

Do you think you have hearing loss?
Do not worry, you are not alone.

The signs can be subtle at first and sometimes not always noticeable. Since hearing loss is gradual, we tend to make certain changes in our behaviour to cope.

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Over 360 million people worldwide are living with some form of hearing loss or tinnitus.

Do you think you might have hearing loss? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

The signs can be subtle at first and sometimes not always noticeable. Since hearing loss is gradual, we tend to make certain changes in our behaviour to cope.

What type of hearing loss do you have?

Hearing loss is divided into two categories:

Conductive hearing loss occurs when the passage of sound is blocked either in the ear canal or the middle ear. This can occur due to blockages or damage to the outer ear, ear canal, or middle ear, thus reducing the sound volume to the cochlea in the inner ear.

Causes and Symptoms

  • Accumulation of ear wax
  • Chronic middle ear infections (otitis media)
  • Chronic infection
  • Growth in the middle ear (cholesteatoma)
  • Abnormal bone growth in middle ear (otosclerosis)

Conductive hearing loss causes soft and quiet sounds to be more difficult to hear, at both low and high pitches.

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the inner ear or the nerves from the ear to the brain become damaged. This loss is permanent and can make even loud noises sound muffled.

Symptoms

  • Reduced ability to hear soft sounds
  • Difficulty distinguishing different speech signals (for example, stove vs stone)
  • Not realizing that a sound is unusually loud

Causes

AGING: Aging is the most common cause, with the first signs being problems understanding speech against background noise. Those over the age of 60 should be tested regularly for hearing loss.

NOISE DAMAGE: We are surrounded by sounds at work and home; excessive or long-term exposure to loud noises can lead to inner ear damage.

GENETIC: Family genetics can impact infants at birth or can develop later in life.

CONGENITAL OR BIRTH RELATED: Complications during pregnancy or during birth, premature delivery, and genetic predisposition can all cause hearing loss.

DRUGS AND MEDICATION: Hearing loss can be a side-effect of cancer treatments and certain medications.

Treatment

A hearing test can help identify the type of hearing loss you have, and then we can recommend next steps. This may include hearing aids, care in our clinic, or referral to a medical doctor or specialist.

Sometimes, people can be affected by both forms of hearing loss. It is important to have regular appointments with your hearing healthcare professional so any required follow-up can be started as soon as needed. Make an appointment today so we can conduct a full hearing health evaluation.

Signs of Hearing Loss Include:

  • Having trouble hearing conversations against background noise – like in restaurants or at family dinners

  • Not being able to engage with others at social events

  • No longer being able to hear birds

  • Hearing a constant buzz or humming sound in your ear

  • Frequently asking people to repeat themselves

  • Constantly turning up the television to hear the dialogue

  • Having difficulty hearing people on the phone

It is always a good idea to make a hearing check-up part of your healthcare routine. If hearing loss is caught early, sometimes lifestyle changes and medical intervention can help. Ensure your hearing is in good hands by contacting us to make an appointment for a hearing test and consultation. No referral needed.

Hearing Health FAQs

Here at Creekside Hearing, we are dedicated to providing trusted services that will improve your quality of life through better hearing! Your first appointment will consist of a Comprehensive Hearing Test where we will discuss your hearing goals, needs, and concerns, so that we can determine the right solutions for achieving optimal hearing health. This may include another appointment to be fitted for the best types of hearing aids for your specific needs.

  • Aging
  • Family genetics 
  • Persistent exposure to loud noises
  • Issues at birth
  • Other factors, such as excessive wax which can temporarily reduce how well your ears conduct sound

  • Speech or other sounds appear muffled
  • You frequently ask others to speak louder, more clearly, or slower
  • You turn up the volume on the tv or radio
  • You avoid conversations or social settings
  • Anyone 55 years or older
  • Anyone with the following conditions: diabetes, kidney or heart problems, high blood pressure, smoker, history of falling, history of head trauma, history of exposure to loud sounds

  • Sometimes tinnitus (a ringing or other sound in the ear) can be treated, but most times it cannot
  • Hearing loss and tinnitus can be linked
  • Lifestyle choices such as excessive caffeine, alcohol, smoking, noise exposure, stress and salt can increase tinnitus
  • Hearing aids may help reduce tinnitus

  • Use ear plugs when exposed to loud noises
  • Reduce the volume of your TV, radio or music, especially when wearing headphones
  • Give your ears time to recover from loud sounds
  • Avoid using cotton swabs in your ears
  • Take medications as directed (some drugs or treatments can negatively impact your hearing). Make sure to consult your doctor.

  • Hearing aids range in price depending on the type of technology
  • In Canada, the average cost of a hearing aid is between $1,400 and $4,000
  • Most people in Ontario receive a grant of $500 per hearing aid every 3-5 years

  • Most types of hearing loss cannot be reversed. However, your doctor or hearing specialist can help you take steps to improve your hearing

  • When nerve damage is present, speech understanding decreases and cannot be corrected
  • Diminished memory and a decline in cognition can occur
  • Social settings and conversations may become more challenging, and then eventually avoided
  • Quality of life declines
  • Chances of falling increases