| It is reported that there are over 2 million users of | | | | for this kind of hearing problem is acoustic trauma. |
| hearing aids in the UK however it is thought that it is | | | | Acoustic trauma can occur in two different ways. It |
| closer to 4 million who could benefit from using one. | | | | can be caused immediately following an extremely |
| Hearing loss is something that affects people of all | | | | loud noise such as an explosion. The other way is |
| ages for a variety of different reasons. The most | | | | when the ears are exposed to loud noises over a long |
| common of which are listed below. | | | | period of time such as a builder working day in and |
| Age | | | | day out on a building site with lots of heavy machinery. |
| The most common cause of hearing related issues is | | | | In both cases the delicate inner structure of the ear |
| age - this type of loss is known as age related or | | | | becomes damaged due to inflammation of cells inside |
| presbycusis. Just like every other part of our bodies, | | | | the ear. |
| our hearing deteriorates with age. It is thought that the | | | | Other |
| initial deterioration can begin as early as 30 years old. | | | | Whist age and noise are the most common causes of |
| Between the ages of 30 and 40, hearing deterioration | | | | hearing loss, there are other factors that can lead to |
| is very small; however it worsens as you get older | | | | the deterioration of your hearing ability. Firstly there is |
| with most people noticing a definite reduction in hearing | | | | conductive hearing loss, this is when sounds are not |
| ability by the age of 80. It is thought that by this age | | | | able to reach the ear canal. Usually caused by a |
| over 70% of people suffer from hearing loss. This | | | | blockage of wax, an ear infection or a burst ear drum. |
| type of hearing related issue is caused by the sensitive | | | | Secondly there is sensorineueral hearing loss; this |
| hair cells inside the ear becoming damaged or dying | | | | refers to any type of damage that is caused to the |
| over time. As the hearing loss begins to become | | | | hearing system. Whilst age related loss and acoustic |
| noticeable it becomes harder to hear consonants like | | | | trauma fall into this category, there are also many |
| the letters s, t, k, p, and f. | | | | other factors that can cause sensor neural hearing |
| Noise | | | | deterioration. Infections, meningitis, multiple sclerosis and |
| After age, the next most common cause of hearing | | | | strokes can also all cause hearing deficiency. |
| loss is damage from loud noises. The technical term | | | | |