Who Should Visit a Hearing Center - Risk Factors for Loss

Many factors may lead to the loss of the ability to hear and therefore, anyone can visit a hearing center to find out if there is a problem and if there is a potential solution for that problem. Many times, individuals will struggle with the lack of ability to hear for years before actually taking the steps necessary to contact a professional. However, there is often help available especially for those who are gradually losing their ear's ability to hear. Who Is At Risk? Some individuals are more at risk for developing this condition than others are. By visiting a hearing center, you can get both a wellness checkup to make sure your ears are working properly as well as an investigative process to determine what type of problem you are having. Anyone from a young age to the elderly can visit these centers annually to ensure the health of their ability to hear. Yet, some people are more prone to developing problems, and therefore are at a high risk, and should visit more frequently. Your Age and Heredity Some of the most common causes of loss come from aging and hereditary factors. As you age, the cells of the inner ear begin to break down just through normal wear and tear. This can lead to a slow progression of loss of the ability to hear. Additionally, some people are more prone to developing problems due to their genes. If your parents and grandparents had issues, you are likely to have them as well. Loud Noises In younger people especially, exposure to loud noises is an incredible problem and should not be taken lightly. If you work in a job that constantly has you experiencing loud noises as a regular part of your day, this will eventually wear down on the inner ear cells and contribute to the loss. This includes construction, factor or farm work. Additionally, if you are exposed to loud noises (even infrequently) that are from recreational activities this, too can damage your ear. For example, a fire alarm, fireworks or other very loud noises can damage the inner ear from just one exposure to the sound. In addition to these factors, some medications, including antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs can damage the ears. Illnesses with high fevers including meningitis can also contribute to this loss. In some cases, it is not known what causes the problem. However, there may be options available for resolving the problem. To find out, discuss your situation with an audiologist from a hearing center. They can answer your questions and help you to get the help you need to potentially improve your ability to hear.