Approximately 28 million Americans have a hearing impairment.
Hearing loss affects approximately 17 in 1,000 children under age 18.
Hearing loss is a gradual process, often taking years before an individual notices difficulty hearing. Approximately 314 in 1,000 people over age 65 have hearing loss and 40 to 50 percent of people 75 and older have a hearing loss.
-Excessive noise (i.e. construction, rock music, gun shot, etc)
-Aging (presbycusis)
-Infections (otitis media)
-Injury to the head or ear
-Birth defects or genetics
-Ototoxic reaction to drugs or cancer treatment (i.e. antibiotics, chemotherapy, radiation)
-Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
-Often avoiding social situations
-Difficulty understanding speech in noisy situations
-Feel that people are mumbling when they speak to you
-Turning the television volume up so loud that others complain
-Often misunderstanding conversations
-Having to look at the speaker's face carefully to follow conversation
-Difficulty hearing in church or an auditorium
-Ringing in the ear(s)
If any of the above symptoms are familiar to you then chances are you might have hearing loss. A complete hearing evaluation by an audiologist is recommended.
Audiologists are healthcare professionals who identify, assess and manage disorders of the auditory and balance systems. Audiologists provide rehabilitation to children and adults of all ages. Audiologists must have a minimum of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in order to practice. They must also be licensed in the state in which they practice, with the exception of Michigan, Vermont and Idaho. Finally, they must abide by the Codes of Ethics outlined by their national organizations, the American-Speech-Language Hearing Association, and the American Academy of Audiology.
