Have you noticed someone who is constantly adjusting the volume on their television, or you have to repeat what you say to them a few times, or suffer from tinitis – ringing in the ears?
Undetected hearing loss is one of those problems that affect communication, causes learning difficulties, isolation and depression, workplace stresses and can be a safety issue.
Although there is a correlation to age and hearing loss, it can affect all ages. Researchers for the National Institutes of Health linked Alzheimer’s disease and hearing loss.
“People who have dementia-like symptoms – dementia is often a mirror for untreated hearing loss. We will see where people will start isolating; they get very distrustful of what people are saying,” said Audiologist Rebecca Frazier, Au. D., CCC-A, F-AAA. “They oftentimes don’t remember what they don’t hear.”
Family history, long-term use of certain medications, head trauma, loud noises and chronic health conditions can also cause hearing problems.
“Diabetes and heart disease are two biggies that can create hearing problems for a lot of people” Dr. Frazier said.
Pollution and second-hand smoke are also suspected contributors to hearing loss.
Chronic exposure to loud noises is a behavior that may put young people at risk.
Adolescents may experience noise-induced hearing from long time exposure to cranking up the volume on ear buds and head phones.
“I keep saying I’m going to pass out my card to everybody I am sitting, five-six seats away and I can hear their music plain and clear,” she said.
This type of hearing loss causes irreparable damage. A hearing test is the first step in finding whether someone has hearing loss, and Dr. Frazier said seeing a hearing professional can help prevent further damage.
The Grace Hill Murphy O’Fallon Health Center, located at 1717 Biddle Street, now offers hearing services through the Center for Hearing and Speech, a St. Louis-based charity. A grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health supported the hearing clinic. The Center also has an office in Rock Hill, Missouri. Dr. Frazier is the onsite audiologist. Grace Hill patients who live in 63106, 63107, 63112, 63113, 63115 and 63147 zip codes who need hearing aids can get them for free until December 31 of this year.
In addition to hearing and middle ear function, Frazier said “We also test speech understanding as well because it’s not just what you hear, do you understand what you are hearing, so we do word-recognition testing,”
“We actually identify a lot of kids throughout the school year who are in the process of ear infections that their parents or teachers may not know about through our screening so they can get them treated,” Frazier said. “Ear infections can create mild to moderate hearing loss.”
If someone has hearing loss that can be rectified or improved by the use of a hearing aid, Frazier said they are smaller and some come in cool colors.
“There are some insurances that cover hearing aids,” Frazier said.
The NIH reports the average cost of a digital hearing aid costs $1,500. “Medicare does not cover hearing aids at all, so [the Center’s] financial assistance covers between 5 percent and 100 percent of the cost, based on income.”
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders:
- 17 percent (36 million) of American adults report some degree of hearing loss
- About 15 percent (26 million) of Americans, ages 20 to 69 have high frequency hearing loss due to exposure to loud sounds or noise
- 12.3 percent of men and 14 percent of women are affected by tinnitus
- Men are more likely to experience hearing loss than women
- Only 1 in 5 persons who could benefit from a hearing aid actually wears one
To reduce the chance of hearing loss in children and adults caused by loud noises, experts recommend identifying sources of loud noises in your environment and avoiding them or limiting your exposure; using ear plugs when using loud equipment; turning down the volume on music, games, movies and television; and seeking evaluation by a licensed audiologist or a qualified professional if there is a concern about your hearing.
The American Academy of Audiology has a campaign to help prevent noise-induced hearing loss. Find out more at TurnItToTheLeft.com.
To schedule audiology services at Grace Hill, call 314-968-4710 or visit www.gracehill.org.
Follow this reporter on Twitter @YrHealthMatters.
