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Hearing Facts

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• In American alone, more than 31.5 million people suffer from hearing loss.
• Approximately 3 in 1,000 infants are born with serious to profound hearing loss.
• People today are losing their hearing two-and-a-half times faster than their parents and grandparents.
• More than 6 million people in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 44 have hearing loss – more than 1 million are school age.
• Hearing problems can contribute to many health problems, including depression, hypertension, and a diminished immune system.
• Only 13% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical.

If you or someone you love has hearing loss, it’s important to see a hearing professional to help diagnose the cause and severity. Click here to find help.

Hearing Loss Affects Everyone

Hearing loss is a natural part of getting older. Already at age 20, we’ve lost the ability to perceive some of the sounds infants can hear. By the time we reach 30 or 40, subtle—but significant—losses have begun to occur. Once we reach our 80s, more than half of us suffer from significant hearing loss. With the added factor of prolonged exposure to high intensity noise at work and at home, hearing impairment is becoming even more common at an earlier age. More than half of all people with hearing challenges today are still in the workforce.

The Volume of Life

Noise levels have increased everywhere. From hair dryers to leaf blowers, lawnmowers, snowmobiles, iPods®, freeway traffic, surround sound speakers and more, we constantly expose our ears to damaging levels of noise.

Work environments are also increasingly loud as well. Some of the noisiest workplaces are those where firefighters, factory workers, farmers, teachers, construction workers and musicians spend a significant part of their day.

Other factors that may contribute to hearing loss include:

• Blockage of the ear canal by an object or accumulated cerumen (earwax)
• Diseases, infections or medical disorders
• Medications and treatments like chemotherapy or antibiotics
• Physical trauma to the ears or head.

Recognizing Hearing Loss

Many of us don't notice the early signs of hearing loss because we slowly adjust to the change. By the time we realize what's happening, we may have already lost the full appreciation of sounds and the lifestyle we enjoy.

Common Signs

If you experience some of the following symptoms, contact your family doctor or hearing health care professional and have your hearing tested.

• It sounds to you as though people are mumbling or speaking more softly than they used to.
• You are turning up the volume on the TV or radio above the level where others typically listen.
• You can hear people talk, but you have difficulty understanding the words.
• You frequently ask people to repeat themselves.
• You can't always hear the doorbell or telephone clearly.
• Family, colleagues and friends suggest you might have a hearing problem.
• It has become difficult to understand a speaker at a business meeting or service.
• It is especially difficult to hear women or children speak.
• You often hear a ringing or buzzing in your ears.
• You might notice a slight muffling of sound after noise exposure.
• It can be difficult to hear or understand people when you leave a noisy area.

It's Never Too Early to Start Protecting Your Hearing

At first, hearing loss may seem harmless or temporary. It may appear as a ringing or buzzing in the ear after leaving a noisy restaurant, concert or sports stadium. If the symptoms disappear, take steps to protect your hearing in the future. Once permanent damage occurs, hearing loss can't be reversed.

Caring for Your Hearing

Your ears are delicate organs. By taking a few simple steps to protect them, you may be able to prevent hearing loss caused by excessive noise or foreign objects.

To Protect Yourself from Noise:

• Pay attention to noise in your workplace. If the sound level exceeds 85 dBSPL, reduce the noise level or wear ear protectors.
• Lower the volume of your television, stereo and iPod. Take special care if you use headphones or earbuds.
• Be careful not to turn up your car stereo volume too loudly to compensate for noise from the engine or the wind.
• Wear custom noise filters or solid earplugs if you go to rock concerts or nightclubs. Take a break so your ears can rest, and don't stand near loudspeakers.
• Wear headphones or solid earplugs for outstanding noise protection if you use noisy equipment such as drills, lawnmowers, etc.

To Avoid Damage from Foreign Objects:

• Don't use cotton wool to protect your ears. Doing so may push wax down onto your eardrum and can increase the production of wax and/or damage the eardrum.
• Don't put fingers, cotton swabs or towels in your ears. These can also push wax down onto your eardrum and damage your skin.
• Avoid washing with unclean water to prevent ear infections.

Prevent Further Damage with Early Treatment

Early treatment of hearing loss can help smooth the transition to using a hearing device while preventing—or at least postponing—certain serious impairments.

Once you suspect your hearing has declined, it’s time to call a hearing professional to:

• Determine if you have a hearing loss and what its causes might be. Your problem may be as simple as excessive earwax buildup or related to other medical causes.
• Get appropriate treatment.
• Take steps to prevent further hearing damage.

Finding the Right Treatment

The right treatment for you depends on your unique hearing challenges. Some people with a hearing loss benefit from basic devices that simply amplify sound. Others may need more sophisticated hearing aids designed to amplify certain sounds and not others.

Working with a Professional

The world may sound different at first with the new technology. That's why it's important to work with a licensed hearing professional who can help you transition to the new sounds and adjust your device.

Locate a Starkey Hearing Professional

Together, you and your hearing professional will determine the proper treatment. If you do need a hearing device, the hearing professional will help you make the right choice.

Find a Hearing Professional Now