Hearing Loss and Deafness
Multiple Origins And Causes
The main cause of hearing impairment is presbycusis, which usually occurs around the age of sixty.
It is now easily corrected thanks to the considerable progress made in hearing correction. This deficiency can also be of medical or congenital origin, or appear after taking certain medications.
The modern environment with its share of noise pollution represents a significant factor in the increase in hearing disorders.
Young people are particularly exposed, a recent phenomenon that can be explained by intensive listening to high-power portable music players and regular attendance at deafening concerts.
Deafness And Its Different Forms
1. Conductive deafness
This type of deafness comes from a lesion or obstruction of the external or middle ear and mainly affects the transmission of low and high-pitched sounds. The origin of the condition can come from the eardrum, the external auditory canal or the chain of ossicles.
2. La Perceptive deafness
Perceptive deafness affecting the inner ear is usually due to poor condition of the hair cells in the cochlea. Sounds reaching the cerebral cortex are then altered and difficult for the brain to decode. This form of deafness is frequently accompanied by tinnitus and most often affects high frequencies.
Presbycusis, A Natural Phenomenon
In 8 out of 10 cases, hearing loss is due to presbycusis, a natural phenomenon comparable to presbyopia for sight. Over time, the hearing system loses performance, a feeling of hearing discomfort begins in noisy environments and then settles into everyday life.
Warning signs of hearing loss
- Hearing impairment, insidious and progressive
- The interlocutor articulates badly
- The environment is too noisy
- The TV presenter speaks too fast
Hearing, Like Sight, Changes With Age
Over time, hearing abilities sometimes become less efficient. You may then experience hearing discomfort, particularly in busy environments (restaurants, family gatherings, etc.). If this is your case, do not hesitate to consult a hearing specialist, who will advise you on a discreet and effective hearing solution to help you regain better hearing comfort.
Tinnitus A Phenomenon Often Linked To A Loss Of Hearing
Tinnitus is a fairly common hearing disorder: approximately 20% of the population regularly suffers from its effects. It manifests itself as buzzing, whistling, and hissing sounds heard in the head or ear. Their origin is still poorly explained: manifestation of emotional stress, medical cause or sound trauma are some of the known causes of this condition. In 9 out of 10 cases, tinnitus is linked to hearing loss and in 3 of these cases, the hearing loss observed requires a device. Talk to your AUDECIBEL audioprosthetist who will present you with the acoustic solutions capable of relieving your tinnitus.
Consequences
The person does not act and lets the hearing loss set in. However, these signs can be indicative of an incipient hearing loss. Asking people to repeat themselves more and more often, experiencing increasing difficulty understanding in family or meetings, turning up the volume on the television excessively, all tell you that it is time to take action. Also, if you have any doubts about your hearing, talk to your Audecibel specialist!