A 2008 study showed that 35 million Americans, 11.3 percent of the United States population, suffered a hearing impairment. In spite of this affecting such a high percentage of the population it remains largely unaddressed. Only about 40 percent of those with moderate to severe hearing loss wear hearing aids even though the great majority of people with impairment could benefit from a hearing device. Loss of hearing results in an increase in symptoms of depression, life dissatisfaction, a withdrawal from social activities, and significant income loss.
A recent national study by the Better Hearing Institute reported that those with severe loss are almost twice as likely to be unemployed as those who use aids.
Hearing loss can be caused by a number of conditions. Noise induced loss is the most common cause. This can be caused by a single exposure to an extremely loud sound or by long term exposure of months or years to high decibel sounds such as power tools, stereos and headphones, airport traffic, and other loud sounds.
99 percent of noise induced loss is preventable though very few people actually use ear protection. The second most common cause is a gradual reduction in the ability to hear higher pitched sounds. Called presbycusis, this age induced condition mostly affects older individuals. The primary cause of loss of hearing in children is ear infections though it can also be caused by birth defects and injury.
Many people believe that this affects primarily the elderly but the fact is that 65 percent of those with impairments are under the age of 65. Once the delicate hair cells in the inner ear become damaged the damage cannot be reversed, however the vast majority of people suffering from it can be successfully treated with hearing aids. A comprehensive assessment and test that takes only 45 minutes to an hour can determine possible causes and degree of the loss of hearing.
Digital technology has completely transformed hearing devices. The combination of digital sound, directional sound technology, and computerized chips within the hearing device analyze the sound environment and sense the difference between speech-like sounds and ambient noises like those in a restaurant. This allows a device wearer to actually hear better than a person with normal hearing in a noisy environment.
If you have trouble hearing, don't be among the 60 percent of those Americans suffering in silence. Talk to your doctor and get your ears tested. Aids today can be essentially invisible, very comfortable to wear, and will improve not only your hearing but the quality of your life.
Author Resource:-
ExpertHearingSolutions.com (http://www.experthearingsolutions.com/) is a Hearing Aids Burnaby is precious, yet most of us take our hearing for granted.
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