Do You Have Hearing Loss?

Do any of these apply to you?

• I have difficulties understanding what people are saying.

• I often need people to repeat themselves.

• I have trouble understanding conversations when there’s background noise around, such as, restaurants or at a family gathering.

• I withdraw from social situations because I can’t follow the conversation clearly.

• I turn up the TV and radio up, my family tell me it’s too loud.

• My ears ring or buzz.

• My family say I have a hearing problem.

If you answered yes to any of the above, you might have a hearing loss. Don’t let hearing problems like these keep you from enjoying life.

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Can you treat Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss can happen so slowly and that you might not notice at first, and you may think the problem is that other people are not speaking clearly. Meanwhile, you could be missing out on conversations. You may think people are mumbling or sound muffled. Movies, and TV programs can become harder to follow.

The good news is? Most hearing loss is treatable with hearing aids. There’s no reason to miss out when you can be getting more out of life.

 

How many people suffer from hearing loss?

Hearing loss is more common than you might think. It’s estimated that 1 in 6 Australian’s experience hearing loss. Workplace noise, or other factors can cause hearing loss. But most hearing loss, unfortunately is a result of getting older.

Hearing loss can be treated with the right hearing plan or hearing aid.

You won’t need people to repeat themselves. You’ll be able to turn the TV turn down so your neighbours aren’t hearing it.  You’ll be able to join in the activities you enjoy and get the most out of life again.

 

How Does Hearing Work?

Hearing is when sound waves travel through our outer, middle and inner ear, but it's our brain that deciphers what we hear.

• Outer ear — the part you can see and the ear canal.

• Middle ear — the eardrum and three tiny bones.

• Inner ear — the snail-shaped cochlea and the hearing nerve.

Our hearing depends on these parts working together. If you have a problem anywhere in these areas, you may experience hearing loss.

 

Hearing: The Inside Story

When waves of sound, such as the sound of birds, travel to your middle ear and hit your eardrum, which vibrates and, in turn, the small bones of the middle ear which transmit the vibrations into your inner ear.

Your inner ear consists of the cochlea and the auditory nerve. The tiny hair cells in the cochlea stimulate nerve endings which are connected to the auditory nerve which converts sound waves into nerve impulses which travel to your brain. Your brain then interprets the impulses as sound so you “hear” it as the sound of birds, music or voices. All of this ‘hearing’ happens in a split second.

Certain things like, diseases, workplace noise or simply aging can damage hair cells. Once these hair cells are gone, you can’t get them to grow back. But hearing aids can help with hearing loss.

If you’re experiencing hearing loss, we’re here to help. We can assess your hearing and explain your options for you, we will then help you choose the best solution for your hearing and lifestyle.