about hearing loss
How Do We Hear?
Types of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be the result of injury, illness, disease, certain medications, noise exposure, and age. It can affect any part of the hearing process, from the outer or middle ear to the hair cells in the inner ear, or even the parts of the brain that are responsible for hearing. There are three main types of hearing loss, and a hearing test at Paragon Hearing can help you determine what kind of hearing loss you have.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Conductive Hearing Loss
Mixed Hearing Loss
Signs of Hearing Loss
The early signs of hearing loss can be hard to detect. Since hearing loss is often gradual, our ears make small adjustments to the way we hear without our even realizing it.
- The first sounds to be affected are high frequency sounds, like the voices of women and children, or the birds chirping outside the window.
- Consonant sounds like S, F, SH, CH, H, TH, T, or K are lost.
- You’ll be asking people to repeat themselves, or find yourself straining to hear on the phone or in places with a lot of background noise.
Living with Untreated Hearing Loss
If you have hearing loss, it might be tempting to put off treatment for a while. After all, your hearing loss doesn’t seem so bad, and you don’t want to take the time or energy to invest in hearing aids. However, living with untreated hearing loss isn’t just about missing a few words or straining to understand conversations.
Those who choose not to treat their hearing loss risk some serious long-term health consequences. When communication breaks down, as is the case with hearing loss, people are more likely to lack communication in family and friend relationships, and experience anxiety, social isolation, stress, and even depression. Studies have also shown a clear link between untreated hearing loss and rapid cognitive decline, such as difficulty concentrating, problems with memory, and significantly increased rates of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Take your hearing loss seriously and seek treatment as soon as possible. Visit us today at Paragon Hearing for a hearing assessment and consultation.
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