Hearing loss is one of the most common undetected and untreated health problems in the United States. Recent statistics indicate 15% of adults age 45-64 years and 27% of adults 65-74 years old have significant hearing loss. Hearing loss too often goes unnoticed or “sneaks up” on the individual because of the following characteristics:
Hearing loss is gradual – it can develop so slowly that the person is not aware of any change from year to year
Hearing loss is partial – it is not unusual to have hearing loss in the high frequencies and still have normal hearing in the lower frequencies to detect the presence of speech
Hearing loss is painless – although tinnitus (ringing in the ear) may accompany hearing loss, there is no other feeling that alerts you to a change in hearing
Hearing loss is invisible – the person with a hearing loss doesn’t look different and you cannot detect hearing loss by looking in someone’s ears; only a comprehensive hearing evaluation can determine if there is a hearing loss
If you know of someone who may have an undetected hearing loss, the first step is to have a comprehensive hearing evaluation conducted by an audiologist.
For more information, contact us at 931-393-2051 or visit our website.
