Hearing Loss Undetected ~ Audiology Awareness Campaign

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Why Does Hearing Loss
Go Undetected?

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Presented by:
ACC ~ The Audiology Awareness Campaign

Hearing loss is one of the most common chronic health problems in this country. According to the National Health Interview Survey, 18% of the 45-64 age group and 27% of the 65-74 age group have significant hearing loss. Hearing loss can also occur in children, of course. Middle ear infection (resulting in conductive hearing loss) is one of the most common problems seen by pediatricians.

But hearing loss often goes unnoticed and the person with the hearing problem is often the last one to become aware of it. Why does hearing loss go undetected? And why do so many people put off getting help for several years after it is known?

Frequently, hearing loss is:

Gradual.Loss of hearing can develop so slowly that you're not aware of any change from year to year. A loss of one or two decibels per year is not noticeable, but after 10-20 years of such change, you can have a distinct-albeit unnoticed-problem.

Partial. You can develop a hearing loss for high pitched sounds that affect the clarity of speech but still have normal hearing sensitivity for low pitched sound so you hear speech and background noises at a relatively normal loudness. That's why a person with such loss may san, "I can hear people talking-I just can't understand them."

Painless. Usually, there is no feeling or sensation that alerts you to a change in hearing-especially if it is slowly progressive.

Invisible. The person with a hearing loss doesn't look any different and you can't detect hearing loss by looking into someone's ears. Only an audiologic evaluation can determine whether a hearing loss is present.

Because of these characteristics, it's easy for the person with gradual onset hearing loss to believe there is no problem. If you know someone you suspect may have undetected hearing loss, please ask him or her to read this article. And remember, the first step is not to get hearing aids, but simply to have a professional hearing test by your audiologist.

This article was originally submitted by
Dennis Hampton, Ph.D. and subsequently edited by AAC.