According to the National Institute on Hearing Loss and Other Communication Disorders, millions of Americans may require hearing aids to improve their hearing; however, only a few benefit from them. Even so, hearing aids have been shown to improve work, relationships and mental health of individuals with mild hearing loss. Here’s a discussion on whether you may need a hearing aid for mild hearing loss.
What Counts as Mild Hearing Loss?
Mild hearing loss can be defined as difficulties hearing 26-40dBs. People with mild hearing loss may have difficulty hearing:
- Ambient sounds such as running stream water or refrigerators.
- Whispering
- Conversation in background noise.
However, audiologists say it is vital to focus on how hearing loss affects your life. The term “mild” is not very useful since individuals with communication challenges in this hearing loss range will not consider it mild.
Hearing loss can create problems at work and school and cause loneliness and depressive symptoms, which can interfere with your relationships. It can also be problematic for developing kids since they have issues communicating and establishing friendships. Persons with mild hearing loss frequently say they can hear but cannot fully understand conversations.
Causes of Mild Hearing Loss
There are several reasons why you can be diagnosed with mild hearing loss. You can restore some of these conditions through early diagnosis and treatment.
Aging and exposure to excessive noise are the two commonest causes of mild hearing loss. Excess earwax buildup can also cause this. You may have to visit your audiologist for removal to restore your hearing. Infection in the ear is another cause of mild hearing loss. While this is more common in young kids, adults can also have an ear infection.
Contact your audiologist if you have an earache or hearing loss accompanied by a fever or discharge. Middle ear bone abnormalities can also affect your hearing. The tiny bones in your middle ear may not function properly if the inner ear is blocked from receiving sound signals required to carry sounds to the brain. This is a symptom of Otosclerosis. Medical conditions such as head trauma can cause mild hearing loss.
These conditions may be referred to the audiologist for possible treatment. However, if the loss is permanent and irreversible, you may use hearing aids or devices to amplify sound.
How to Prevent Mild Hearing Loss
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), affecting many Americans, is the most preventable kind of hearing loss, according to statistics. Many different types of devices and equipment for protecting your hearing are available to assist you in safeguarding your hearing against NIHL.
First, there are foam earplugs, which are good for basic noise reduction. There is also custom-made equipment for musicians to preserve their hearing and manage the level of sound they perceive for every instrument and band. Filtered earplugs are ideal for music fans who wish to enjoy a performance without compromising sound quality. Percussive filters are designed specifically for hunting to block out the loud sound of the rifle discharge while allowing regular speech.
Why You Should Seek Immediate Treatment
The only preventative precaution you can take is to visit your audiologist as soon as you notice a change in your hearing. Whether it is therapy for an ear infection or something more serious, making an early appointment with the audiologist for treatment can yield better results.
Do You Need Hearing Aids for Mild Hearing Loss?
Hearing aids are frequently recommended for children and adults with mild hearing loss. These individuals say they can hear but cannot comprehend, particularly in noisy environments. Even with mild hearing loss, kids may be unable to acquire the building blocks that will allow them to develop their speech.
Many people are usually concerned with how using hearing aids will look on them or whether it will fit their lifestyle. However, your audiologist will review these concerns with you and recommend the ideal hearing aid to alleviate your worries. Some of these devices are small enough to be placed into the ear or large enough to rest behind your ear.
You can also operate them remotely; they are Bluetooth-compatible and can be tweaked for background noise. You can arrange a trial period before purchasing if you are unsure if a particular hearing aid is suited for you.
Hearing loss is a treatable condition in many cases. Schedule an appointment with your audiologist to have your hearing examined. Contact The Hearing Center at York ENT today via (717) 850-9269 to learn more and get proper hearing health going forward.
