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Hearing Loss 101
Hearing loss can happen to anybody and it has many different causes. We have gathered some useful information to help you learn more about hearing loss and navigate its challenges.
What is Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss is a common problem effecting millions
Millions of people around the world have hearing loss. It often comes on gradually or is caused by repeated exposure to loud noises. At Beltone, our goal is helping the world to hear better, and that includes you and your loved ones.
Hearing loss affects the ability of the auditory system and the brain to code and decipher auditory information. As the hearing loss progresses other symptoms may include social isolation and inability to function in common social settings. If you or your loved ones feel you have significant hearing problems it is advisable to see an audiologist or your physician for evaluation.
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Warning Signs of Hearing Loss
If you experience these warning signs repeatedly or in combination, they may indicate a hearing loss. Most hearing loss is gradual and progressively gets worse over time. Often, we don’t notice the symptoms of hearing loss until they become more extreme. Look for these subtle signs and symptoms of hearing loss.
It’s hard to hear, understand, or follow the words of others when they speak.
People seem to speak softly, mumble, slur or drop words, or talk too quickly.
You often ask people to repeat themselves.
Telephone and video chats are hard to hear clearly.
You prefer the television volume louder than friends and family members.
You hear a ringing sound in one or both ears.
You struggle to understand speech in noisy places, such as restaurants.
You sometimes miss text message dings, the doorbell, a ringing phone, or your name being called.
On the telephone, you strain to distinguish words, “plug” your non-phone ear, or use earbuds at a medium-to-high volume?
Types & Causes
Types and causes of hearing loss
There are many reasons why we lose our hearing, but the most common are prolonged exposure to noise and the aging process. Other causes include ear infections, head injuries and certain medications. The good news is you are not alone and you can do something about it. Beltone hearing aids make conversations easy again and give you better overall situational awareness so you can reconnect to your surroundings and start living life to the fullest again. Explore this section to learn more about the types and causes of hearing loss.
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Levels of hearing loss
There are two levels of hearing loss: mild-to-moderate and severe-to-profound.
Mild-to-moderate
People with mild-to-moderate hearing loss have lost some outer hair cells and have trouble understanding softer sounds, such as the voices of women and children.
Severe hearing loss
People with severe hearing loss have lost both inner and outer hair cells, making it harder to hear soft sounds as well as distinguish between high and low-pitched sounds.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus and ringing in the ears
Tinnitus is the name for the perception of sounds, such as ringing in your ears, buzzing or hissing, when these sounds are not present in the environment. Although the tinnitus sounds can be perceived as quite loud, objective measurements show that they are often fainter than the sound of a leaf falling to the ground. Explore this section to learn more about Tinnitus.
Hearing Solutions
We design products to make your life easier
We use the latest technology to develop hearing aids, apps, and accessories with features that make it easier to adjust to and use hearing aids in your day-to-day life. We invest heavily in research and development to continually bring you new products and improve the ones we have. Beltone has introduced many “firsts” to the hearing aid industry.
- In-the-ear hearing aids
- 2.4GHz wireless technology
- An iPhone compatible hearing aid
- An app for the Apple Watch
Book A Hearing Test
Ready to take the first step toward better hearing? Visit your local Beltone office and get a complimentary hearing consultation with one of our hearing care professionals. Find a Beltone clinic near you.