Hearing Health Clinic | Hearing Loss Symptoms & Prevention | Brisbane, Gold Coast, Queensland

Australians and hearing loss

Did you know that one in six Australians experience hearing loss? Sadly, on average people wait seven years before visiting a hearing clinic such as Bay Audio Australia. Although hearing loss can greatly impact on your quality of life, you don’t have to put up with it. Keep reading and you can learn more about the different types of hearing loss, and also find a few simple ways to protect your ears.

How we hear

The ear is a precious and delicate organ. Before we hear anything, sound waves in the air need to be converted into nerve impulses that our brain then reads as ‘sound’. To fully understand how it works, it’s important to realise that the ear is made up of three parts:

1 – The Outer Ear

2 – The Middle Ear

3 – The Inner Ear

Sound waves are gathered by the Outer Ear, move down the ear canal and strike the eardrum, causing it to vibrate. The drum is connected to three tiny bones, which are housed in the Middle Ear. The third bone acts as a piston, moving in a small opening at the start of the Inner Ear. This movement sets up waves in the fluid of the Inner Ear. These waves, like a swell in the ocean, move over tiny hairs that stick out of nerve cells lining the Inner Ear. As these hair cells move they generate nerve impulses. The nerve impulses are then carried along nerve fibres to the brain – it’s here they are registered as sound.

Hearing loss

There are three types of hearing loss:

1 – Conductive hearing loss is when there is a problem in the Outer or Middle Ear, which prevents sound from

getting to the Inner Ear. It can be caused by:

- An ear infection

- A hole in the ear drum

- Abnormality of the little bones in the middle ear

2 – Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is a problem in the Inner Ear or hearing nerve that prevents

sound from getting to the brain. Hearing aids are usually very effective at compensating for this kind of hearing

loss. Causes of sensorineural hearing loss can include:

- Infections or viruses

- Inherited hearing loss

- Sudden loud sounds or prolonged exposure to loud sounds

3 – Mixed hearing loss occurs when two of the above problems combine; one in the Outer or Middle Ear and one

in the Inner Ear or nerve.

Ringing ears – tinnitus

Ringing ears or tinnitus is that persistent ringing or buzzing in your ears. It affects 15% of Australians at some time in their life, and this increases to 30% for people aged over 55, so if your ears are buzzing it’s not a mosquito. If you suffer from this common and annoying hearing problem, a visit to Bay Audio for a thorough hearing test can help us diagnose the issue and prescribe a course of action.

Hearing devices can often mask out the tinnitus symptoms. Another approach uses noise generators to disguise the tinnitus sound with ‘white’ noise, distracting the brain from the buzzing of tinnitus. And take note: aspirin, caffeine, alcohol and smoking are all known to make tinnitus worse.

Treatments

Outer or Middle Ear hearing loss can sometimes be corrected by surgery, antibiotics, or removal of an obstruction (such as ear wax). Inner Ear hearing loss is not as easily fixed with surgery or medication. Hearing aids really are the only option. They amplify sound, which means they only work when some degree of hearing is retained. Visit a Bay Audio location to find out which hearing aids are suitable for you.

Non-technical treatments can also make a significant difference to your hearing. Simple things like asking people to speak louder or more slowly can help to improve communication.