While advanced age is the most frequent reason for a hearing loss, noise also factors into the equation. People who are between 65 and 74 years old are often seen by audiology doctors with the number increasing after the age of 75. Scientists do not fully comprehend why a person’s hearing worsens with age. However, they usually conclude that the reason is both hereditary and due to long-term exposure to noise.
Ongoing Exposure to Noise at Work
Noise is indeed a factor that must be reviewed when a person sustains a hearing loss. When you visit an audiology clinic in Knoxville, TN, you will find that noise as well as medications can have adverse effects. For example, your hearing will suffer if you are exposed to excessive noise levels at work. Some of the areas in which people suffer the most loss of hearing include carpentry, plumbing, mining, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and the military.
Medicines That Reduce the Ability to Hear
In other cases, audiology clinic specialists often see patients who work in the musical field. Performers such as singers or musicians should always wear earplugs when they are on the stage. Medications, as noted, can also have an adverse impact on the hearing. For example, drugs such as aspirin, antibiotics, chemotherapy medicines, and malaria medications can all reduce a person’s ability to hear.
A Sudden and Unexpected Loss of Hearing
In addition, audiology clinic doctors add that some people may experience a hearing loss suddenly. When this happens, a loss of 30 decibels can occur over a span of days. In most of the cases, the loss only impacts one ear. While about 4,000 new cases of this type of malady happen annually, physicians only determine the cause about 10% of the time.
Infection or a buildup of earwax can affect the hearing as can trauma or an illness such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease. Diseases of the middle and inner ear can also lead to a hearing loss problem. To understand more about treatment options or the fitting of hearing aids, browse audiolifehearing.com for further details.
