HEARING LOSS FACTS

Hearing Loss Facts

Brought to you by the professionals at
Wolfpack Hearing Clinic in Fayetteville, AR

Hearing Loss Facts

Brought to you by the professionals at
Wolfpack Hearing Clinic in Fayetteville, AR

Recent statistics report that around 48 million individuals struggle with hearing. Are you one of millions who can't hear as well as they once did? If so, you're not alone.

Consider these statistics reported by Sergei Kochkin, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Better Hearing Institute:

Approximately 3 in 1,000 infants are born with serious to profound hearing loss.
3 in 10 people over age 60 have hearing loss.
1 in 6 Baby Boomers have a hearing problem.
At least 1.4 million children (18 or younger) have hearing problems.
1 in 14 Generation X-ERs have hearing loss.

Numerous studies have connected untreated hearing loss to emotional, physical, mental, psychological, & economic disadvantages. To make matters even worse, there are endless myths about hearing loss that prevent those with impairments from doing anything.

Don't hesitate; contact us today for your hearing evaluation.

Causes of Hearing Loss

One of the most heard myths about hearing loss is only old people suffer from it. The truth is alarming. The majority (65%) of people with hearing loss are younger than 65! Over 6 million people in the United States from 18-44 suffer from hearing loss.

There are countless causes of hearing loss. The primary causes of hearing loss are:
Noise Exposure
Hereditary, Family History of Hearing Loss
Ototoxic Medications
Traumatic Head Injury
Disease
Aging Process

How We Hear

The sound journey begins when the waves enter the outermost part of your ear, the visible portion. The waves are then directed down the ear (auditory) canal. Your ear canal is a tube lined with microscopic hairs and tiny glands that work to make earwax.

When the waves reach the end of your ear canal, they’re in your middle ear. Most hearing loss is caused by disarray in the middle ear because the middle ears function is to amplify sound. The middle ear is made up of the eardrum and three little bones: the layman/hammer, anvil, and stirrup. Sound waves hit the eardrum making it shake creating a chain effect.

The chain begins with the eardrum shaking, moves the hammer. The hammer moves the anvil, which moves the stirrup. All this moving & shaking transmits the vibrations into your inner ear. The inner ear is includes the hearing nerve & cochlea. The inner ears sole purpose is to convert sound waves into nerve impulses. These impulses travel to the brain utilizing the movement of tiny hair cells. Finally, It’s the brain that gives you the ability to hear.

If any part of the process isn’t functioning properly, your hearing experience can be altered. Wolfpack Hearing Clinic is here to ensure your sound waves make the journey safely. Contact us today for a hearing consultation.

Conductive

Conductive hearing loss affects the middle and outer ear. This may be correctable with medication or surgery. Conductive hearing loss could be caused by something as simple as earwax buildup.

Sensorineural

Sensorineural hearing loss affects the inner ear. Usually irreversible, but hearing aids commonly help. This is caused when tiny hairs in the cochlea are missing or damaged.

Mixed

Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. It's recommended that you treat the conductive hearing loss first, then the sensorineural.