The complexity of the hearing system starts with the ear, but ends with extensive activity within the brain. This intricate system allows each of us to have hearing abilities that filter, decode, associate, and interpret our world. Even in the most complex listening situations, we have abilities that can suppress noise, identify a selected language, target sounds of interest, and enhance specific speech utterances in a fraction of a second. When hearing loss occurs, it creates changes in these hearing abilities, causing problems with noise interference, sound tolerance, speech identification, and to varying degrees conversation. Treatments for these problems vary depending upon the hearing abilities that are impaired and medical considerations. However, hearing loss is not only about hearing
abilities. It is about how it affects our interpersonal relationships, the people we come in contact with, and how we perceive ourselves and communication problems. For these reasons, the treatment of hearing loss is not merely about making sound louder or buying the newest hearing aids on the market. It is about identifying the cause and type of hearing loss, obtaining medical treatment when indicated, measuring individual changes in hearing abilities, and designing an appropriate plan of treatment to improve communication.
Hearing loss affects individuals differently depending upon many factors, including age. As you will learn in the section on Pediatrics, the lack of normal hearing in infants and children delays the development of speech and language, resulting in a number of social and educational dilemmas. On the other hand, in the link on Seniors, you will find that the initial stages of hearing loss are difficult to identify as everyday communication is gradually impaired. Although the symptoms and solutions are different between these groups, hearing scientists and clinicians all agree that the early identification and treatment of hearing loss is vital to our quality of life and health.
In the majority of adult cases, patients do not recognize or avoid discussing hearing loss until it becomes noticeable at work or a family member or friend complains of a communication problem. Most typically, a spouse will be the first to notice the conversational errors. When hearing loss develops, interpersonal relationships can suffer as understanding conversation becomes more difficult for both the listener and the speaker. This comes from a lack of word clarity, making conversation puzzling at times. However, how a person with a hearing loss feels about their predicament and how they manage their hearing needs are the keys to being successful. Appropriately fitted hearing aids, used with other listening devices and the right attitude and listening skills, can make hearing loss more manageable, reduce stress, and improve the quality of their life and those around them.
Hearing loss is a handicap that is not easily understood by those with normal hearing. It is frequently misinterpreted as being unfriendly, standoffish, rude, or a sign of dementia, when in truth it is none of these. The fact that there is no outward and obvious ailment creates this wrong impression. Unlike a person with hearing loss, a person with vision impairment is much easier to identify and receives appropriate attention and courtesy.
Because of the unseen nature of hearing impairment, family, friends, and co-workers do not understand the impact it has on life or what they can do to make communication easier. Most importantly, without helping others and teaching them a few easy steps to better communication, the hearing loss is not being properly treated. Being proactive helps others to understand hearing loss, which reduces situational stress and improves social acceptance.
The fact that medical treatment, at present, can only cure approximately 10% of all hearing problems and hearing devices improve, but cannot restore hearing to normal, suggests that individuals must control and manage their hearing needs. There are a number of practical solutions that can help anyone with a hearing loss become a good hearing manager and a success. These include sharing your specific needs with others, knowing what to say and when to ask for help, and leaning how to assess and improve listening situations and skills. Use of assistive listening device, whenever possible, can also make a remarkable difference in communication. Although there are a variety of great hearing products on the market, there remains no substitute for take charge and make the best out of each listening situation.
We hope you enjoy our website and the educational points of information. Although many websites take materials from books and present them as original information, this website is designed and written by a Doctor of Audiology with over 35 years of clinical experience and serves as an expert witness for the State of California. At HearingGuy.com, we know that better hearing is possible and available for every hearing impaired infant, child, teenager, adult, and senior. Thank you for visiting HearingGuy.com to see what is new in hearing knowledge and technology.
Kindest regards,
Dennis A. Colucci, Au.D., M.A., FAAA
Fellow and Scholar of the American Academy of Audiology
