Hearing loss is a progressive condition that develops slowly over time. Because of this, many end up living with untreated hearing loss for years before finally seeking help. Being familiar with the symptoms of hearing loss can help prevent this and prompt you to seek treatment early.
Types of Hearing Loss
There are two main types of hearing loss, which are defined by where in the hearing process an issue occurs.
The ear consists of three parts: the outer, middle and inner ear. Soundwaves are captured by the outer ear and funneled down the ear canal until they hit the eardrum. This creates a vibration, which travels through the tiny bones in the middle ear until it reaches the cochlea within the inner ear. The cochlea is lined with delicate hair cells that are responsible for converting the vibration into an electrical impulse. This impulse is passed through the auditory nerve to the brain where it is finally interpreted as sound.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss Symptoms
This is the most common cause of hearing loss, making up about 90% of all reported cases. It affects both how loudly and how clearly you can hear sounds and occurs when there is an issue with the inner ear or auditory nerve.
People with this type of hearing loss may have trouble hearing a specific range. High-frequency hearing loss is the most common and includes trouble hearing:
- The voices of women and children.
- Certain consonant sounds (s, sh and f).
- Birds chirping in Ben Burton Park
- Microwave beep.
Low-frequency hearing loss is a rarer degree of hearing loss that makes it harder to hear deeper sounds. This means you may have trouble hearing men when they speak, struggle with talking on the phone and display an inability to hear instruments that produce low-pitched tones such as the tuba.
Conductive Hearing Loss Symptoms
Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a problem preventing soundwaves from traveling through the outer or middle ear. Unlike sensorineural hearing loss, many causes of conductive hearing loss can be treated, and your hearing may return. Symptoms include:
- Feeling like your own voice sounds odd.
- Pain or pressure in the ear.
- Odor or drainage coming from the ear.
General Hearing Loss Symptoms
Regardless of your type and degree of hearing loss, there are a number of universal signs to be aware of. If you or a loved one exhibits any of these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with an audiologist for a hearing test, as early intervention produces the best results.
Common symptoms of hearing loss include:
- Turning the volume of the television up too loud.
- Struggling to understand speech in an environment with a lot of background noise.
- Having trouble hearing when talking on the telephone.
- Being unsure of which direction a sound is coming from.
- Feeling exhausted after attending a social event.
- Having to ask people to repeat themselves frequently.
To learn more about the symptoms of hearing loss or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, contact the Georgia Hearing Center at ENT of Athens today.