The Most Common Type of Hearing Loss

The most common type of hearing loss is known as Sensorineural Hearing Loss or SNHL.  Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurs when the inner ear (cochlea) or nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain are damaged.  It is usually caused by exposure to loud noises or aging and on rare occassions can be repaired surgically.  In a vast majority of cases, however, the only way to treat SNHL is to find a device that will enhance the ear's remaining hearing capacity.  This involves amplifying the ear's existing ability to hear, which is what hearing aids are created to do.

 

Read what the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association says about SNHL.

How We Hear

Our ears are extraordinary organs. They pick up all the sounds around us and then translate this information into a form our brain can understand. One of the most remarkable things about this process is that it is completely mechanical. Our sense of smell, taste and vision all involve chemical reactions, but our hearing system is based solely on physical movement.

Discover how we hear!

How Better Hearing Impacts Our Quality of Life

 

Research conducted by the National Council on Aging has discovered that the treatment of hearing loss improves intimacy in relationships, ease of communication among peers, and participation in group social activities.  Dr. Sergei Kochkin states, "People with hearing loss delay a decision to get hearing help because they are unaware of the fact that receiving early treatment for hearing loss has the potential to literally transform their lives."

 

Read more about how better hearing impacts our quality of life 

When a Loved One Has Difficulty Recognizing Hearing Loss

Over time, we become acutely aware of loved ones who have difficulty hearing.  It takes an average of seven years for someone experiencing hearing loss to seek help.  How can we encourage them to get the help they need?  Dr. Richard Carmen, a Clinical Audiologist in Arizona, says, "When we think of helping a loved one with hearing loss, we often think of how important it is to repeat ourselves, speak clearly, speak louder or interpret what others say if they cannot hear the message. But when we do these good deeds for loved ones with a hearing loss, what we don't realize is that we're assisting in their failure to seek help.  Many people with a hearing loss never realize how much communication they actually fail to understand or miss completely because you have become their ears. However, it takes only a short time for them to realize that without your help, they're in trouble. It is through this realization that one becomes inspired to take positive action to solve their problem."  

Find out how you can help a loved one deal with hearing loss