In a world of internet hoaxes and alternative facts, it can be hard to know if the information you are getting is correct. More than 48 million people in the U.S. experience hearing loss, but many don’t know a lot about this progressive condition. Your Indiana audiologist put together the following list of hearing myths to help you distinguish fact from fiction.
Myth: Only Old People Get Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is very common is older patients. About one out of every three people between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing loss. That number jumps to one in two for those over the age of 75.
But this does not mean that hearing loss is confined to older adults. Children can also experience hearing loss; five out of every 1,000 babies are born hard of hearing. Roughly 16 percent of teens between the ages of 12 to 19 have hearing loss, and about 26 million Americans between 20 and 69 experiencing a loss is hearing.
Hearing loss can be caused by a number of factors, including:
- Exposure to noise
- Disease
- Genetics
- Ototoxic medication
Myth: You’ll Know When You Have Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is a progressive condition that worsens over time. Many don’t notice there are sounds they can no longer hear until their hearing loss has worsened to a significant degree.
Unfortunately, many primary care physicians do not include a hearing exam in their routine physical exam. Instead, they rely on you to let them know if you are experiencing any issues.
If your friends or family have been complaining about you asking them to repeat themselves or turning the television up too loud, this is a sign you should contact an audiologist to have your hearing tested.
Myth: Hearing Aids will Cure My Hearing Loss
If your hearing test confirms that you do have hearing loss, a hearing aid is a common treatment recommendation. Many think hearing aids work like glasses, restoring your hearing to where it was before it was damaged. Instead, hearing aids amplify sounds to a volume you can hear with your loss.
This means some sounds may not be as you remember them; your voice especially will sound funny at first. Hearing aids take some getting used to but are well worth the journey.
To learn more about the truth behind hearing loss or to schedule an appointment, contact the experts at Indiana Hearing Specialists today.