Hearing Loss Facts

Definition:
The total or partial inability to hear sound in one or both ears.

Alternative Names:
Decreased hearing, deafness, loss of hearing.

Considerations:
Prevention of hearing loss is more effective than the treatment.

• Minor decreases in hearing, especially of higher frequencies, are normal after age 20. 1 out of 12 30-year olds is already hearing impaired and 1 in 8 50-year olds suffer from hearing loss.

• Alzheimer's disease or other neurological problems may sometimes be falsely suspected in older people because they have hearing problems.

• Hearing problems may be the reason some children's speech develops slowly.

• There are many causes of hearing loss. They may be grouped in several ways. One way divides causes into 2 categories: conductive loss and nerve loss.

• Conductive loss occurs when the three tiny bones of the ear (ossicles) fail to conduct sound to the cochlea or when the eardrum fails to vibrate in response to sound because of some mechanical problem such as fluid in the ear or disruption of the ossicles.

• Nerve loss occurs when the nerve is injured by physical or other means. Conductive loss is often potentially reversible, nerve loss is not.

• Hearing loss is second only to arthritis as the most common complaint of older adults.

• 90% of hearing loss can be treated with hearing instruments.

• According to the Better Hearing Institute, 9 out of 10 people indicate that the quality of their life has improved with hearing aids.