hearing

The ear is made up out of three parts:

  1. Outer ear that consists of the pinna and ear canal

  2. Middle ear that consist of the eardrum and three tiny bones called the ossicles

  3. Inner ear that contains the balance canals, hearing organ (cochlea) and hearing nerve

The outer ear collects the sound waves and directs it towards the eardrum. As the sound waves travel through the ear canal, they vibrate the ear drum and the three tiny bones in your middle ear space.

These vibrations are transmitted through the inner ear, setting off movement of fluid in the cochlea which stimulates the nerve endings called hair cells. The hair cells send sound information to the hearing nerve. Then the hearing nerve sends the sound impulses to the brain and your brain tells you what you hear.

Hearing.gif

What causes hearing loss?

  • Medication – some may have hearing loss and tinnitus as a temporary or permanent side effect

  • Damage to the inner ear - aging and exposure to loud noise may cause wear and tear on the hairs or nerve cells in the inner ear

  • Hereditary – family history of hearing loss

  • Earwax – temporarily blocks sound waves

  • Illness or injury – meningitis/head injuries

  • Ear infections and/or abnormal bone growths or tumours in the outer, middle or inner ear may cause hearing loss

  • Ruptured eardrum – hearing loss will be present until the eardrum has healed

Signs that you may have hearing loss:

  • Experiencing muffling of speech and other sounds

  • Difficulty understanding words, especially against background noise or in a crowd

  • Trouble hearing consonants T, K, S, SH and P

  • Frequently asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly

  • Needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio

  • Finding women and children voices harder to understand

  • Avoidance of some social settings because you find it hard to hear others

  • Ringing in your ears (tinnitus)

Tips to prevent hearing loss:

  • Get help: Any sudden change in your hearing needs to be assessed immediately.

  • Avoid noise damage: If the noise is so loud you have to shout to be heard by someone standing 1 meter away you need hearing protection to avoid permanent damage.

  • Avoid loud music: Listen to music at a sensible volume. Use of earphones and ear buds should be limited to 60 minutes each day at no more than 60% of the maximum volume. Volume-limited devices are now available to keep your hearing safe.

  • Use protective gear: Always wear safety approved earplugs or earmuffs when mowing the lawn, using power tools, shooting a gun or in any noisy environment.

  • Act on ear infections : Ongoing untreated infections can lead to permanent hearing loss.

  • Avoid foreign objects: Do not poke anything into your ear as you can damage the eardrum and middle ear structures.

  • Regular ear health checks: Get your doctor or ear nurse to check your ears at least once every 12 months for wax. Also advised before flying, diving, swimming or overseas travel.

  • Equalize your ears: Take extra care when diving or flying as difficulty to do so can result in fluid build-up and ruptured eardrums that will affect your hearing.

Tips to cope with hearing loss:

  • Ask for a heads up. Have loved ones say your name and get your attention before they start talking.

  • Face others when they’re speaking. Make sure you can see a person’s face and lips when they talk. Their expressions and body language will put what they’re saying in context.

  • Turn off other noise. When you want to have a conversation, switch off things that can drown it out, like a TV or radio, or move away from them. When you’re going out to eat, ask for a table away from large parties or the kitchen.

  • Repeat information back. Numbers and words can sound alike. When you get important details from someone, like a time or date, repeat it back to them. Better yet, get it in writing.

  • Know your limits. If you’re sick or tired, your hearing or how well you understand others may be worse than usual.

  • Tell others what you need. Saying “I’m hard of hearing” is a good start, but it doesn’t give the person you’re talking with advice for how they can best help you.