Near North Hearing Centre
A Sound Decision

TYPES OF HEARING LOSS

Over three million Canadians encounter some degree of hearing loss within the middle or inner ear. In one way or another, it is likely that everyone will be affected by hearing loss.

Promptly dealing with suspected hearing loss will help identify solutions, minimize its effects, and ensure the best quality of life.

Hearing loss is categorized by which part of the ear is affected. Listed below are the main types of hearing loss people can suffer from.

• Conductive hearing loss involves the outer and/or middle ear and may be caused by a wax blockage, fluid in the ear, foreign objects in the ear canal, punctured eardrum, birth defects, ear infection and can also be hereditary.
• Sensorineural hearing loss or nerve-related deafness is the most common type of hearing loss. It involves damage to the inner ear and/or the auditory nerve caused by aging, pre-natal and birth-related problems, viral and bacterial infections, trauma, exposure to loud noise, certain medications, a growth on the auditory nerve and can also be hereditary.
• Mixed hearing loss refers to a combination of conductive and sensorineural loss and means that a problem has occurred in both the outer or middle and the inner ear.

HEARING LOSS IN ADULTS

More than half of Canadians over the age of 65 will experience some degree of hearing loss. More than 25% of all hearing loss can be attributed to aging and a growing percentage of adult hearing loss is now caused by noise damage.
Hearing loss can have a profound impact on emotional, physical and social well-being of a person and being left untreated, it can lead to depression, dissatisfaction with life, reduced functional and cognitive health, as well as withdrawal from social activities.

Although using hearing aids can improve the quality of life for hard-of-hearing adults, two-thirds of seniors who could benefit from hearing help either do not seek it or refuse treatment.

What to look for:

• Continually asking people to repeat themselves.
• The TV is set at a loud volume.
• Voices are unclear on the telephone.
• Difficult to understand speech in noisy situations.
• It is hard to understand conversations in social settings or at work.

HEARING LOSS IN CHILDREN

What to look for with babies

• Doesn’t startle at loud noises.
• Doesn’t turn towards the source of a sound after 6 months of age.
• Doesn’t say single words by 1 year of age.
• Acknowledges you when they see you but not when you call them by name.
• Seems to hear some sounds but not others.

What to look for with children

• Speech is delayed and/or not clear.
• Doesn’t follow directions.
• Often says, “Huh?”
• Turns the TV volume up too high.

If you think that your child might have hearing loss, call Near North Hearing Centre to book a hearing screening as soon as possible.