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How to Recognize the
Signs of Hearing Loss
(ARA) – If you couldn’t hear well, would you wait five to nine years or longer to address the
problem? Many people do just that. The average age of first-time hearing aid users is 67, yet the
Better Hearing Institute reports that nearly half of all people with hearing loss are younger than
55. Why the delay in seeking help?
"Many people with hearing difficulties aren't even aware they have a problem," says Dr. Barry
Freeman, an audiologist at Starkey, a global hearing technology company. "Because the change
happens over time, treatment may be delayed until the problem is fairly significant. By getting
your hearing checked early and regularly, you should be able to treat the problem and find a
solution that allows you to enjoy all the sounds of life that you love."
Freeman says the first step in treating hearing loss is to recognize its most common signs. If you
or a loved one experiences the following, it might be time to contact a hearing care
professional:
* Turning up the volume of the TV or radio.
* Problems hearing the doorbell or the telephone ringing.
* Difficulty hearing people calling and talking from behind you or in another room.
* Asking people to repeat themselves or saying "what?" frequently.
* Misunderstanding or "forgetting" what has been said.
* Often cupping hands behind the ears.
A Noisy World
Modern society has created a noisy world. From traffic to lawn equipment to kitchen appliances, a
number of different things we hear every day expose our ears to damaging levels of noise. By age
20, we've lost the ability to perceive some of the sounds infants can hear. By the time we reach 30
or 40, subtle but significant losses have begun to occur. Once we reach our 80s, more than half of
us suffer from significant hearing loss.
If you have a hearing problem, you aren't alone -- more than 31 million Americans suffer from
hearing loss according to the Better Hearing Institute. Unfortunately, 80 percent of them do not
seek help. Take the first step for you or your family member and visit a hearing care professional
in your area for a hearing evaluation. You can find a professional near you at starkey.com. Your
problem may be as simple as excessive earwax buildup or related to other medical causes. If you are
diagnosed with a hearing impairment, you'll find that there are now more options than ever for
treating hearing loss and protecting your hearing in the future.
The Right Solution
Every person has individual hearing needs and should work with a hearing care professional to find
the best solution to your hearing problem. A professional can assess your hearing loss and fit you
with the best hearing aid for your lifestyle. That means assessing both the style of the hearing
aid as well as the technology level, since there are a number of options for both.
The good news is modern hearing devices are nothing like the hearing aids of your parents'
generation. Today's instruments are sleek, sophisticated pieces of equipment scientifically
engineered to deliver clear sound without constant manual adjustment or annoying feedback -- the
whistling often associated with hearing aids.
For example, Starkey researches and develops hearing aids that are both nearly invisible and
effective. These devices offer Active Feedback Intercept, a technology that eliminates feedback.
Additionally, Directional Speech Detector helps you hear and understand speech better, even in
noisy areas.
Hearing is an incredibly important part of communication and quality of life. If you or a loved one
is having trouble hearing, depression and frustration can occur. It's important to get help today
so you can hear well and enjoy your life.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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