Hearing Loss Symptoms , Causes and Treatment 

Several people in the UK have problems with their hearing. In fact, it is a common occurrence with about one in six people reporting hearing troubles. But people who experience this condition do not always report symptoms to their physicians right away. Statistics have shown that a person may wait for an average of 10 years before telling their doctor about their hearing problems.

10 years is just an estimate, but indeed, you don’t need to wait for a long time before you decide to let your doctor know about your hearing loss symptoms. Act right away when you spot differences in your hearing. Prompt consultation with a physician can save your ears from further damage in the future.

Mobidoctor’s physicians are always on-hand to talk to you about your hearing loss symptoms. They can readily be reached in minutes through an online doctor's appointment. You can get practical medical advice from them to help you act on your hearing loss symptoms as soon as possible.

Hearing loss can either occur slowly over a long period of time, or it can come all of a sudden. Symptoms of hearing loss which you should readily discuss with a physician include the following:

• Straining to hear what people are saying or talking about
• Difficulty in following conversations and getting frustrated about it
• The need for others to often repeat what has been said to you
• Having to turn up your music or television in a loud volume just to hear them properly

Sound signals need to reach your brain in order to hear and interpret what has been heard properly. In the case of hearing loss, these sound signals are unable to reach your brain for a variety of possible reasons. Aging and constant exposure to loud noises may predispose a person to hearing loss.

Hearing loss comes naturally as one ages. Signs of difficulty hearing are often felt during a person’s 40s. This tends to increase gradually as one ages, with most people having hearing loss up to some degree when they reach 80 years old and above.

Hearing loss can also be caused by constant exposure to loud noises. Possible causes may include:

• Working in a noisy environment, such as building construction sites
• Listening to loud music on earphones or headsets
• Experiencing a single, very loud noise, such as an explosion

Other possible causes of hearing loss are the following:

• Blockage in the ears caused by excessive earwax
• Perforated eardrums
• Head injuries
• Stroke
• Infections such as meningitis

Treatment will be based on the severity of your current hearing loss problems. If you have mild hearing loss or your hearing is still considerably good, you may be advised on lifestyle changes to help stop the hearing loss from getting worse. Such interventions may include wearing ear protectors at work, using headphones that block out external noises, and lowering down the volume when using earphones.

Worse cases of hearing loss may require the use of hearing aids or cochlear implants. These devices are fitted inside the ear to eliminate straining and let you hear sounds and conversations better.

Plenty of options are available and all of these are discreet as well. You can discuss these things to your physician and he can help you select the right device for your hearing loss needs.