What types of environmental noises can cause hearing loss over consistent exposures?
jorge asked:
What constitutes consistent exposure? What is tinnitus? Does the sufferer refuse to do anything about it, demanding instead that everyone who speaks to them must stop mumbling? Why do you suppose there is such a stigma about having hearing loss, given that so many people suffer from it?
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What constitutes consistent exposure? What is tinnitus? Does the sufferer refuse to do anything about it, demanding instead that everyone who speaks to them must stop mumbling? Why do you suppose there is such a stigma about having hearing loss, given that so many people suffer from it?
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:23 am
Anything can cause hearing loss if you listen to it at a prolonged length of time at an unreasonable volume. This can include the tv, music, occupational noise such as machinery, etc.
Tinnitus is the ringing in your ears. This can vary between people. Some people hear it as a buzzing noise, whooshing noise, ringing, etc. It also can vary as far as being a low frequency/pitch tone or a high frequency/pitch tone. Some people can experience multiple frequency/pitch. Researchers don’t really know what causes it but it usually is associated with a sensorineural hearing loss. It occurs whenever there is damage to the auditory system. Most people are able to handle the tinnitus and those who cannot have strategies that they can use (such as using a fan to block it out at night).
What BB referred to, is the acoustic reflex where there is a muscle that contracts to block out the loud noises, not the tiny bones or ossicles (which are the tiny bones). There are inner and outer hair cells within the ear and once they are damaged that will affect hearing as well. Having a hearing loss at one frequency will NOT make your ears ring contantly. It is different for each individual.
I have seen many patients who feel that people need to stop mumbling. A lot of older patients have a mood where they feel like they are going to die so why bother. Therefore, they really don’t see why getting hearing aids would really help them. Also, there is the fact that people can see them. Back in the day hearing aids used to be VERY noticeable and people didn’t want to be seen wearing hearing aids especially younger people (30’s/40’s). However, now that the hearing aids have become digital and very small, a lot more people are willing to try them. People have to accept their hearing loss and believe it or not people are in denial over their loss. Granted when people are known to have a hearing loss, people NEED to speak clearly and slowly for them. I’m not saying that you need to talk to them like they are cognitively slow but they need to be able to catch what you say. Hearing aids do not restore hearing back to where it was before they loss. They only help give back some hearing. That is why people don’t want to have a hearing loss. Having a hearing loss is very straining on the individual and usually it is family who will push the person to get hearing aids. However, hearing aids really do help and someone with a hearing loss really should consider getting them.