Tag: Hearing Test

How Hearing Loss can affect Two Ears Differently

Hearing Aid Labs

How Hearing Loss can Affect Two Ears Differently

When hearing loss begins to set in, most people will experience at the same rate in both ears. This is because presbycusis, normal age-related loss of hearing, usually affects both ears in the same way.

If your difficulty hearing is more severe in one ear than the other, it could mean a number of things that are often more serious than your usual age-related presbycusis.

Earwax

A build-up of compressed earwax is a very common cause of hearing loss and can also be very painful if left unattended. Compressed earwax can trap bacteria, eventually causing an infection.

Having earwax is very normal and healthy as it also contains good bacteria that keeps your ears healthy. A compression of earwax can be caused by spending time in the ocean or pushing an earbud too far into your ear.

If you expect that you are experiencing a build-up of earwax, ensure that you go to your physician or hearing specialist as soon as possible.

Infection

If you are experiencing severe pain alongside your difficulty hearing, an ear infection may be to blame.
Otitis media is a very common type of ear infection, which affects the middle ear, and is quite common in children although adults can still experience it too.

Untreated ear infections can lead to permanent hearing loss and should be taken very seriously.

Tumours

Tumours are not very common, but they can definitely be a cause for single-sided hearing loss and should definitely not be ruled out. Benign tumours, called acoustic neuromas, are the most common type, and damage the nerve endings leading to the brain.

The damage these types of tumours cause, can be devastating, and the sooner they are found the better. Tumours can also cause dizziness and nausea on top of difficulty hearing.

Experiencing hearing loss in one or both ears? Why not book a free screen test at one of our countrywide branches? Our team at Hearing Aid Labs are absolute professionals, and are passionate about helping you to maintain and improve your hearing!

Article by: Hearing Aid Labs

Basic Hearing Screen Test

Book A Screen Test Today!

Who should do a hearing test? The answer is everyone, young and old alike. Generally, people will wait until they are having difficulty before getting their hearing tested. The reality is that they have most likely been living with hearing loss anywhere from 5 to 15 years before they take action. 

Things that increase your risk of hearing loss include noise exposure, both at work and recreational (motorcycles, guns, loud music), as well as your age. As hearing loss is found more often with increasing age, people 55 years of age and older are recommended to have their hearing tested annually (if a hearing loss exists) and every two years otherwise.

What’s Involved?

The first step will be to get to know your personal hearing health and medical history and find out what concerns you have.

Next: A basic hearing test involves carefully listening through headphones that are placed over the ears. You will be asked to listen for tones or beeps that vary in pitch and loudness and instructed to press a button when you hear the tones. We are searching for the softest sound you can hear.

The results of the basic hearing test are plotted on a graph called an audiogram. 

Your qualified audiometrist/audiologist will then explain the results to you and help you understand the functional impact of your particular hearing loss, leaving you with a clear understanding of your hearing health and a course of action to take moving forward.

We look forward to meeting you…

Article By: Hearing Aid Labs