One in six Australians has hearing loss, and the World Health Organisation predicts this number could rise to one in four by 2050. While this is in part due to our ageing population, it can also be down to consistent exposure to loud sounds and neglecting the early signs of hearing loss.
Causes of hearing loss
In the past, hearing loss in adults was mostly caused by loud sounds – loud workplaces such as factories and mines, until employers gradually began implementing mandatory ear protection. These days, a lot of preventable ear damage is still caused by loud sounds, but it tends to be self-inflicted, particularly with music played through headphones. I have seen patients as young as 18 with high frequency hearing damage as a result of prolonged exposure to loud music through headphones, which is so easily preventable.
Of course, sometimes we might want to blast music while working out or on our commute. Doing this, to some degree, on the odd occasion won’t cause long-term damage, as long as you balance it out with a moderate listening volume most of the time. As a guide, this is usually around the 50% mark.
Live music can have long-lasting effects on your hearing too. Exposure to sounds over 85dB can cause hearing loss. Most live performances are can be over 100dB, and even louder if you’re closer to the speakers, which means it takes less time to suffer damage to your hearing. To help minimise this, wear ear protection such as noise protection earplugs that will allow you to still enjoy the music without risking as much damage. You can also use handy phone apps, such as Sound Meter, to check how loud your surroundings are and protect yourself accordingly.
In children, early intervention is imperative, as the most common causes of hearing loss are conductive and treatable. Children are more prone to ear infections and chronic glue ear. These infections often accompany other sicknesses such as a cold or flu, so can be extremely common. If you think your child may have glue ear, which often presents as not hearing well and maybe speech delay, take them to your doctor to treat it as soon as possible.
Treatment of hearing loss
In Australia, newborn hearing screenings detect hearing loss at birth, allowing for early intervention to maximise listening, hearing and speech and the early fitting of hearing aids or cochlear implant surgery if required.
For adults, once you are 50 or above you should get a hearing screening every five years, so any progressive hearing loss can be picked up and treated in a timely manner.
If you think you may be dealing with hearing loss, don’t suffer in silence. Often we are afraid to admit we may be dealing with hearing loss. Perhaps we’re younger than we think we ought to be for hearing loss to occur, or simply don’t want to face the reality. You should first visit your GP who can review you and arrange a hearing test and refer you to an ENT specialist for a diagnosis. Depending on that, treatment options could include removing wax blockage, surgical procedures, hearing aids, and for more severe hearing loss, cochlear implants.
National providers, of which NextSense is the largest charity for hearing, offer a range of services for children and adult with hearing loss, including hearing surgery and ongoing support.
The truth is, much like many medical issues, if not addressed early it will worsen your condition. Since we’re living longer than ever (and women even longer!), it’s imperative that we take care of our hearing and get regular screenings, particularly as we get older.
About Catherine Birman
Clinical Professor Catherine Birman is Medical Director at NextSense and one of Australia’s leading ENT surgeons. She has performed almost 2,000 cochlear implant surgeries, from patients as young as three months to those well into their 90s. In 2017 she was named the NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year for her work.
NextSense is the new name for Royal Institute for Deaf & Blind Children (RIDBC). It is Australia’s oldest and largest hearing charity and helps over 10,000 children, adults and families with hearing and vision loss every year.
