3 Types of Hearing Loss: A Guide
Many people believe that hearing loss just means you struggle to hear people in a busy restaurant or that you find yourself turning up the volume on the TV more often. While both of these things are signs of hearing loss, there are in fact a range of different types of hearing loss which can affect you. Below is a guide to the different types of hearing loss a person can experience.
Sudden hearing loss
As the name suggests, sudden hearing loss occurs quickly. It is often a result of head trauma or from being exposed to very loud sounds such as an explosion. The extent of the hearing loss will depend on the extent of the damage caused by the trauma or sound wave. In other cases, a person can experience a sudden loss of hearing without there being any direct external cause. When this occurs, it is most likely to be the result of a viral infection. Given time, a person who has experienced sudden hearing loss will gradually recover their ability to hear. However, if the inner hear has suffered extensive trauma the recovery may be limited.
Noise-related hearing loss
Noise-related hearing loss typically occurs when you have been exposed to a loud noise repeatedly for an extended period of time. For example, if you work in a factory and do not wear hearing protection, the sound generated by the machinery may slowly damage your hearing. Noise-related hearing loss normally only affects your ability to hear sounds which are the same frequency as the noise which has damaged your ears. If you are working in a noisy environment, you should always wear earplugs or ear defenders to protect your ears from noise-related hearing loss. If you are experiencing noise-related hearing loss, you should visit an hearing clinic today.
Age-related hearing loss
As you get older, it is normal for your sense of hearing to degrade. This usually starts with very high frequencies before affecting mid-range frequencies. The low bass frequencies will typically still be heard. If you are experiencing hearing loss which is related to your age, you may find that people seem to mumble when they speak to you. This is because while you can hear the low vowel sounds in the words they are saying, you cannot hear the higher frequency consonants. You may also find it difficult to follow a conversation when you are in a location with a lot of background noise. If you notice any of these signs, you should have your hearing tested at your local hearing clinic.
