Friday, July 18, 2008

(ARA) - Hearing loss is one of the most common health problems among Americans, with gradual hearing loss affecting millions and often going undetected. No tell-tale signs alert people to changes in their hearing, especially if it progresses slowly. Only a professional hearing screening can determine whether someone is experiencing hearing loss, hearing experts say.

Despite the fact that more than 31 million Americans report some type of hearing problem, only about 13 percent of U.S. physicians routinely screen their patients for hearing loss during physical exams. Complicating matters is the fact that those experiencing difficulties with their hearing often are unaware of their hearing problems.

"Hearing problems often go unrecognized by those people who might be experiencing hearing loss, sometimes taking years before seeking professional help," says Dr. Kathy Landau Goodman, chairperson of the Audiology Awareness Campaign (AAC), a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise public awareness of hearing loss.

If you think that hearing loss is something that only affects the elderly, think again, Dr. Landau Goodman says. Hearing loss affects all age groups and more than half of hearing impaired are younger than 65, including six million people between the ages of 18 and 44. An estimated 1.5 million school age children are also hearing impaired.

Experts say there are many causes of hearing loss, such as wax build-up in the external ear canal, a condition that is easily treated but unfortunately goes unrecognized in 46 percent of patients. Wax build-up can easily be addressed by using an over-the-counter wax remover like Debrox from GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. Environmental causes of hearing loss from noisy workplace conditions are also a major factor, as is the growing incidence of noise-induced hearing loss blamed on the popularity of iPods and other MP3 music players -- a growing problem for hearing impairment in young people.

Early hearing loss detection and intervention is the first step to the successful treatment of hearing problems, according to Dr. Landau Goodman.

Hearing loss can be very subtle and develop gradually over many years so that people with hearing impairment don't recognize it. Experts say that a loss of one or two decibels per year is not noticeable, but after 10 to 20 years such hearing loss adds up. In addition, it's not uncommon for people to develop partial hearing loss for high pitched sounds that affect the clarity of speech, but still have normal hearing sensitivity for low pitched sound, in which case they hear other people talking yet can't understand them.

Get a Hearing Screening
Make sure to have your hearing screened regularly. Recently, the AAC partnered with GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, makers of Debrox, to bring free hearing screenings to communities around the country. Look for similar programs taking place in your community to find free hearing screenings or check with your doctor.

To find an audiologist in your area visit the AAC Web site (www.audiologyawareness.com) or call the AAC hotline at               (888) 833-EARS       . All family members, regardless of age, are encouraged to have their hearing screened.

Courtesy of ARAcontent