Learn About Hearing Loss

 

We use our five senses (tough, taste, hearing, seeing, and smell) to experience the world around us. When combined, these senses add insight and enjoyment to life. Of all of these, hearing is especially important, as it assists in the expression and interpretation of human wants and needs. Hearing loss is a complex problem, and it cannot always be reversed. Yet hope is not lost; a qualified audiologist can assist in the improvement and preservation of hearing quality. Unfortunately, lack of information surrounding hearing loss or a negative stigma attached to the issue leads to an underutilization of the available treatment and technology options.

 

Hearing Loss: Categories and Types

 

Mixed

 

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

 

Conductive Hearing Loss

 

Sound: A Definition

 

Sound is measured in decibels, which indicated its loudness.

 

Pitch, however, is a way to describe the number of vibrations in sound over time. Deep voices are generally low pitched, while high voices are high pitched according to experts at http://riversidehearingaidcenter.com/. The same is true of frequency.

 

High-Frequency in Hearing Loss

 

Higher frequencies tend to be the first lost during episodes of hearing loss. For that reason, people suffering from hearing loss may first notice difficulty hearing the voices of women and children. However, it must be remembered that understanding and hearing are not the same thing. High frequency voices may be hard to understand for those with high frequency hearing loss, though not always hard to hear. Another sign of hearing loss may be problems distinguishing between similar words and certain sounds, including those containing sibilance (s, sh, ch, etc.). High frequency sounds found in these words and letter pairings make them difficult to understand correctly. Read about hearing aids here at http://www.mahalo.com/hearing-aid.

 

Hearing Loss: Degree and Severity

 

Hearing loss can be divided into five different degrees. Those without hearing problems have no trouble perceiving soft sounds, while in the worst cases sounds lower than 90 dB cannot be clearly perceived by those suffering with hearing loss.

 

How to Avoid Hearing Loss

 

Premature hearing loss can be prevented by carefully evading sources of loud noises and sounds. Is a sound potentially harmful? Use these tips as a general guide.

 

Can you hear someone speaking over the sound? Are your ears hurting due to the sound? Do you hear a ringing in your ears? Are other sounds covered up after your encounter? Your hearing may be in peril if you answered yes to any or all of these questions. Often times we can't perceive just how loud the sounds we hear each day truly are. Even eighty-five decibels can be a dangerous level, given the right circumstances and length of exposure. Louder sounds require very little time to damage your hearing. However, this damage can be significantly reduced by properly using and wearing hearing protection devices. A certified audiologist can help diagnose and treat hearing problems thru Hearing Test Riverside.