Being able to hear what is going on around you is a major part of leading a normal, full and enjoyable life. Interacting effectively with others and the environment as a whole is significantly less challenging when your hearing is functioning at or near it's full capacity. When it's not, it's easy to start having difficulty understanding what is happening. Although man associate hearing loss with old age, it can happen to anyone regardless of how old they are. Anyone who is experiencing signs of such difficulties should take them seriously and possibly have a hearing evaluation performed to determine the cause and best form of treatment.
It is not always easy to notice signs of hearing loss. As the changes can be very gradual at times, the person who is experiencing them may not even notice. Oftentimes it is easier for those around them to recognize some of the signs.
The signs often manifest in changes in behavior. Classic signs are when the TV or radio is at an unusually high volume compared to what used to be used in the past. This can occur gradually over time and be nearly undetectable to the individual having the difficulty but others may notice more easily. Frequent complaints of the person not listening to what is being said could indicate an issue as well. Another sign to watch for decreased attendance at social events, which could indicate that they are trying to avoid situations in which they need to be able to hear well to communicate effectively.
When a significant issue is suspected due to the existence of these signs or others, seeking help from a physician is recommended. The doctor may decide that an evaluation is needed an make a referral to an audiologist.
The audiologist will have different methods of making the assessment. One is an audiometer test in which the patient sits in a soundproof room wearing special earphones. The audiometer produces tones of varying frequency and volume in the earphones for the patient to identify. The audiologist records the results on an audiogram, which will then show at which frequencies or volumes there are problems for the patient.
Another test is to use a tuning fork. The vibrating tuning fork is placed in the middle of the patient's forehead and they identify whether the sound is louder in either ear or equal in both ears. If it appears to be louder in one ear then this can help to determine the type of hearing loss that is occurring.
Another test can be performed to assess how well one can hear when there is background noise. The patient must repeat sentences that they hear. This is done at first without any background noise, then it repeated with extra noise coming from different angles and at differing volumes.
Once the hearing evaluation is complete, the appropriate course of action can be determined based on the findings of the exam. Thus the testing and assessment is the first, essential step in determining what the problem is and how it can be corrected so that the person with the hearing loss can lead a normal life.
It is not always easy to notice signs of hearing loss. As the changes can be very gradual at times, the person who is experiencing them may not even notice. Oftentimes it is easier for those around them to recognize some of the signs.
The signs often manifest in changes in behavior. Classic signs are when the TV or radio is at an unusually high volume compared to what used to be used in the past. This can occur gradually over time and be nearly undetectable to the individual having the difficulty but others may notice more easily. Frequent complaints of the person not listening to what is being said could indicate an issue as well. Another sign to watch for decreased attendance at social events, which could indicate that they are trying to avoid situations in which they need to be able to hear well to communicate effectively.
When a significant issue is suspected due to the existence of these signs or others, seeking help from a physician is recommended. The doctor may decide that an evaluation is needed an make a referral to an audiologist.
The audiologist will have different methods of making the assessment. One is an audiometer test in which the patient sits in a soundproof room wearing special earphones. The audiometer produces tones of varying frequency and volume in the earphones for the patient to identify. The audiologist records the results on an audiogram, which will then show at which frequencies or volumes there are problems for the patient.
Another test is to use a tuning fork. The vibrating tuning fork is placed in the middle of the patient's forehead and they identify whether the sound is louder in either ear or equal in both ears. If it appears to be louder in one ear then this can help to determine the type of hearing loss that is occurring.
Another test can be performed to assess how well one can hear when there is background noise. The patient must repeat sentences that they hear. This is done at first without any background noise, then it repeated with extra noise coming from different angles and at differing volumes.
Once the hearing evaluation is complete, the appropriate course of action can be determined based on the findings of the exam. Thus the testing and assessment is the first, essential step in determining what the problem is and how it can be corrected so that the person with the hearing loss can lead a normal life.
No comments:
Post a Comment