Facts About Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss in the US
26 million Americans struggle with some level of hearing loss. Loss of hearing hinders communication and diminishes an entire world of words and sounds that make life so interesting. So some of us shrink away from social situations and business opportunities simply because of a lack of confidence in understanding and being understood. It's an issue that needs to be heard!
Things You May Not Know About Hearing Loss
People with hearing loss wait an average of seven years before seeking help.
75% of people who could benefit from hearing aids are not using them.
30 of every 1,000 school-age children have hearing loss.
60% of people with hearing loss are between the working ages of 21 and 65.
33 babies are born with hearing loss every day.
Vanity stops many people from wearing hearing instruments. In reality, a hearing loss is much more obvious than a hearing aid. |
Anatomy of the Ear
1. Outer Ear
2. Middle Ear
3. Inner Ear
4. Ear Canal
5. Eardrum
6. Ossicles
7. Oval Window
8. Auditory Nerve
Types Of Hearing Loss...
In general, there are three types of hearing loss:
Conductive Hearing Loss
This type of hearing loss is a condition of the outer and/or middle ear. It occurs when sounds from the outside world cannot be transmitted normally through the ear canal and/or middle ear to the inner ear. The most common causes of this hearing loss can be build-up of wax in the ear canal, perforated eardrums, or damaged or defective ossicles (such as age-related otosclerosis).
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
This type of hearing loss can occur if the delicate hair cells in the inner ear breakdown, rendering them unable to convert sound vibrations into the electric signals needed by the auditory nerve. Or perhaps the nerve pathways in the auditory nerve itself become damaged, preventing the signals from reaching the brain. In some people this damage has been caused by noise - through working in a noisy environment for too long, but the major reason is the process of aging itself.
Mixed Hearing Loss
This type of hearing loss is caused by a combination of problems in the middle and inner ear. Mixed hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss are two of the most common types of hearing loss.
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