The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Hearing loss is a disability that frequently goes unnoticed. It is the most common sensory impairment in adults over the age of 65, affecting more than 30 per cent of Canadians in this age group. Hearing loss is serious: not only does it affect the physical sense of hearing, it affects overall well-being. Because of the communication difficulties it creates, hearing loss can lead to withdrawal from family, friends and social situations. One in 10 Canadians has a hearing loss. More than 50 per cent of Canadians over the age of 65 have an inner ear hearing loss. Inner ear hearing loss is usually not reversible. Some of its causes, such as noise damage (see Causes of hearing loss for more causes), are preventable by wearing hearing protection or avoiding very loud environments (such as rock concerts). Signs of hearing loss in adults may include: straining to hear speaking louder than necessary in a conversation; constantly asking for words to be repeated; straining to hear; misunderstanding conversations; favouring one ear; thinking that people always mumble; turning the television or radio up louder than usual; having difficulty hearing on the telephone; withdrawing from social contact; ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus); appearing dull and disinterested; and being slow to respond. Hearing is important for your personal safety and overall health. Educate yourself about the early signs of hearing loss and consult your doctor immediately if you notice a change in your hearing capacity. Central deafness is damage to the hearing centres in the brain caused by stroke, head injury or lengthy high fever. A person with central deafness can often hear normally but has difficulty processing what is heard. Head noises (tinnitus) is a common hearing-related problem characterized by the sensation of sound when there is no external noise. Tinnitus sounds vary widely from person to person, including descriptions such as ringing, buzzing, chirping, whistling, hissing or pulsing. This may be accompanied by tension in the head and neck, fatigue, irritability, poor concentration, feelings of panic and depression. For some, the tinnitus is constant and has a significant impact on their lives, and for a few, the impact of tinnitus and its side effects can be disabling. However, for most people head noises come and go without causing severe inconvenience. Tinnitus may occur with a hearing loss, but can also occur in someone with normal hearing. When it is present with normal hearing, it may be a warning sign that the inner ear is beginning to be damaged. See 'Poten...' on pg. Continued from pg. Potential causes are numerous, for example, exposure to excessive noise, age-related changes of the inner ear, certain medications (e.g., high doses of aspirin), high blood pressure, head trauma, nerve tumour, and increased fluid in the inner ear. Therefore, it is important to consult a physician to determine the cause. Common causes of hearing loss include: the aging process; noise exposure; heredity; middle ear dysfunction; certain medications; neurological diseases or stroke; head injury; Êinner ear infection; or, in rare cases, tumours. If you think that you have a hearing loss or have tinnitus, ask your family doctor to refer you to an audiologist for a hearing test. A thorough hearing evaluation by an audiologist is important to determine the type and degree of hearing loss, and what treatment or hearing aid options may be available. You may also require a referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor if a medically treatable cause of the hearing loss is suspected. Get a hearing test every two years.
