hearing-loss-types-of-hearing-loss

Life is worth hearing

"When you lose your sight, you lose touch with things. When you lose your hearing, you lose touch with people."


Helen Adams Keller 


Our sense of hearing is a precious link to the world around us. It’s important to have the ability to communicate our thoughts, needs and emotions with the people we share our lives with. A loss of hearing may disconnect you from the world around you. At Audika, we make an effort to learn about your world, by understanding the role that sound plays throughout your day, we want to keep you connected and hear the way you're meant to.

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Hearing loss can occur at any age, however it is more prominent with increasing age. Millions of people are living with hearing loss today1.  A loss of hearing may lead to isolation, cognitive decline and frustration. It is important to seek help as soon as you notice the signs of hearing loss. 

Do you have hearing loss?

Do you have hearing loss? Our online hearing test will give you a clear indication of how well you are hearing, using background noise and self-evaluation questions.

 

Online hearing test

  • Whether you are sitting in a café, talking on the phone, or listening to music, your brain filters out irrelevant sound to concentrate on the information you want to hear.
  • Your brain can help you determine where a sound is coming from, can help recognise low-frequency sounds like a double bass, and high-frequency sounds like the tweeting of birds. It can process very quiet sounds like the buzzing of a mosquito, and extremely loud sounds like a jet engine starting. Which is why those with some form of hearing loss may often feel exhausted at the end of the day due to the greater amount of effort needed to have a conversation.
The Inner Ear

Sound waves cause fluid in the snail-shaped cochlea to move, and this movement is picked up by the sensory cells, which send electrical impulses to your brain.

The Middel Ear

Three tiny bones and the eardrum make up the middle ear: the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup. They work together to amplify sound waves.

The Outer Ear

The shape of your ear ensures that sound waves are captured and directed through the auditory canal into your eardrum.

Auditory_system

Once impulses are sent to the brain, it processes the data so that we can decide what is relevant in this particular situation and act upon it.

On average it takes us over 7 years to actually get around to doing something about hearing loss1. In that time, we become used to "putting up with it". By that time it may be more difficult to address. Which is why we believe, you should get your to notice the signs and take action. 

Hearing loss can be a life changing issue, so it is important not to ignore it and to take action by seeking help. Just knowing where to start is the first obstacle when addressing your hearing loss. The options for addressing hearing loss vary and will depend on a number of factors. The degree of your hearing loss is the first consideration, followed by the type of hearing loss you may have and your lifestyle needs. If you think this may be affecting you, we recommend that you book an appointment at your local Audika clinic. 

  • Noise-induced_hearing_loss_250x250

    Noise-induced hearing loss

    This is often caused by overexposure to excessive loud noise. Some people have a higher risk of developing noise induced hearing loss at work such as military personnel, musicians, construction, factory workers, farmers even listening to music through headphones. As reported by Australian war veterns and war widows, 55% reported hearing loss as a current medical condition2.

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  • Age_related_hearing_loss_250x250

    Age-related hearing loss

    Age is most often the cause of hearing loss, as many as 64% of people over the age of 60, suffer from some form of hearing loss and up to 3 in every 4 over 70 years1.  The dail wear and tear on our hearing systems gradually reduces their effectiveness. As hearing loss is more gradual, you may not realise that your hearing has changed, often family memebers notice age related hearing loss before you are aware of it.

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  • Tinnitus_250x250

    Tinnitus

    Almost 1 in 10 Australians experience some form of Tinnitus3 from mild to servere. Tinnitus is typically experienced as a persistent ringing in the ears.  It can have a huge impact on the lives of some people causing stress, anxiety and disturbed sleep. About 80% of people with Tinnitus may also have some degree of hearing loss without being aware of it4.

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“There are no words that can describe how all those everyday things have changed my life now that I’m fitted with hearing aids,”

Paola Baltra

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1HCIA, The Social and Economic cost of hearing loss in Australia. Accessed January 2018

2"Hearing Loss in Rural Australia", National rural health alliance August 2014. http://ruralhealth.org.au/sites/default/files/publications/nrha-factsheet-hearing-loss.pdf 

3Tinnitus Australia, 2018.

4The Hearing Review, ‘Oticon Survey Shows Effects of Tinnitus on UK Respondents’, 2nd February 2019

*Free hearing checks appiles to adults aged 26 years and over only.