Hearing loss, "is the number one disability among the elderly," according to Dr. David Nielsen, executive VP of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. People with it, he says, "just muddle through, struggling with communication." We hear about it when another family member complains about "being ignored" or about the TV volume being too loud. And all too often patients with hearing loss are thought to be losing memory and "going Alzheimer’s" or to be depressed. In a year 2000 survey by the National Council on the Aging, those with untreated hearing loss and their families reported more sadness, depression, worry, anxiety and paranoia.

The numbers are staggering: 20-26 million in the U.S.

Noise - loud noise over time can cause significant hearing loss, beginning in the higher frequency ranges. This is a significant worry in fans of loud music who come back from concerts saying their ears are "ringing." This means hearing is being damaged.

Wax - build up can easily be relieved by us or an ENT consultant

Smoking

Medications - some 200 drugs are known to damage the inner ear. Among the most frequent are those used for cancer treatment or serious infections; the damage may be permanent. High dose aspirin, quinine and certain "water pills" (such as Lasix/furosemide) can cause temporary damage. More rarely prednisone-type medication, certain anesthetics and some mood-altering drugs can affect hearing. Typically, high frequencies are lost first.

Otosclerosis is basically arthritis of the middle ear bones

Meniere’s disease affects the inner ear with deafness & vertigo

Trauma

Acoustic neuroma is a tumor affecting the nerve of hearing and balance

Autoimmune inner ear disease results from an attack by the body’s immune system

Aging is also a factor

Limit Noise

Clean out wax

Don’t smoke!

Regular hearing checks (which we’ll be glad to do!)

We’ll get you help: Ear, Nose and Throat and audiology consultations.

Hearing aids: 4 styles:

1) over the ear (biggest)

2) in the ear

3) in the canal

4) completely in the canal (smallest)

Each comes analog (basically an amplifier, and less expensive) or digital (computerized to bring out speech, and more expensive).

Aids take time to get used to – often 6-12 months. They do not return the wearer to his or her youth. But they do improve the quality of life. Patients are safer, and they may even help prevent or slow down dementia.

Surgically implantable aids have been approved by the FDA and cochlear implants (in effect, bionic ears) are in study.