Hearing Loss

“Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) ages 18 and over report some trouble hearing, and about one in three people in the U.S. between the ages of 65 and…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Hearing Loss Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Hearing Changes/Decline/Difficulty/Impairment
  • Hearing Loss

Definition

What is hearing loss?

DotS the definition of hearing loss may vary. The (United States) MedlinePlus’ definition is:

“Hearing loss is being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears”.2

Symptoms

What may symptoms of hearing loss include?

In Hearing Loss: Considerations the MedlinePlus explain:

“Symptoms of hearing loss may include:

  • Certain sounds seem overly loud in one ear
  • Difficulty following conversations when two or more people are talking
  • Difficulty hearing in noisy areas
  • Trouble telling high-pitched sounds (such as “s” or “th”) from one another
  • Less trouble hearing men’s voices than women’s voices
  • Hearing voices as mumbled or slurred”.3

Cause

What may cause hearing loss?

In Hearing Loss: A Common Problem for Older Adults the (United States) National Institute on Aging (NIA) elaborate on:

“Hearing loss is a common problem caused by loud noise, aging, disease, and genetic variations. About one-third of older adults have hearing loss, and the chance of developing hearing loss increases with age”.4

Age-Related Hearing Loss

What is age-related hearing loss?

DotS the definition of age-related hearing loss may vary. The (United States) National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders’ (NIDCD) definition is:

“Age-related hearing loss (also called presbycusis, pronounced prez-buh-KYOO-sis) is hearing loss that occurs gradually for many of us as we grow older. It is one of the most common conditions affecting adults as we age”.5

Common or Not

How common is age-related hearing loss?

In Age-Related Hearing Loss: What Is Age-Related Hearing Loss? the NIDCD elaborate on:

“Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) ages 18 and over report some trouble hearing, and about one in three people in the U.S. between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss. Nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing”.6

Menopause

Is there a relationship between menopause and hearing loss?

The North American Menopause Society note:

“There is some evidence of a relationship between menopause and hearing, but it is unknown whether sex steroids, specifically estrogens, preserve hearing during aging”.7

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have hearing loss?

If you think you have hearing loss it may be in your best interest to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Hearing Loss: A Common Problem In Older Adults – Signs of Hearing Loss the NIA explain:

Hearing Loss“Some people have a hearing problem and don’t realize it. You should see your doctor if you:

  • Have trouble understanding what people are saying over the telephone
  • Find it hard to follow conversations when two or more people are talking
  • Often ask people to repeat what they are saying
  • Need to turn up the TV volume so loud that others complain
  • Have a problem understanding speech because of background noise
  • Think that others seem to mumble
  • Can’t understand what’s being said when children and people with higher pitched voices speak to you”.8

The MedlinePlus also note:

“When To Contact A Medical Professional

Contact your provider if:

  • Hearing problems interfere with your lifestyle
  • Hearing problems do not go away or become worse
  • The hearing is worse in one ear than the other
  • You have sudden, severe hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  • You have other symptoms, such as ear pain, along with hearing problems
  • You have new headaches, weakness, or numbness anywhere on your body”.9

In Hearing Loss: Overview the (United Kingdom) NHS elaborated on:

“Hearing loss is common, particularly as you get older. See a GP if you have problems with your hearing. It could be caused by something that can be easily treated”.10

Who is a GP?

DotS and/or DotC (Depending on the Country) a GP may be a qualified and registered general practitioner, a medical practitioner, a medical doctor or a doctor.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Hearing Loss?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hearing Loss?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. Adverse Health Consequences of Undiagnosed Hearing Loss At Middle Age: A Prospective Cohort Study With the UK Biobank
  2. Age-Related Hearing Loss (Presbycusis)
  3. Can Hearing Loss Lead To Dementia?
  4. Connecting With Questions About Hearing Loss
  5. Deafness and Hearing Loss
  6. Directory of Organizations
  7. Do You Need A Hearing Test?
  8. Do You Think You Have A Hearing Loss?
  9. Earwax Build-Up
  10. Glossary
  11. Got OTC Hearing Aids? You Should Still See An Audiologist
  12. Health Resources
  13. Healthy Body: 5 Ways To Prevent Hearing Loss
  14. Healthy Body: Hearing Aids
  15. Healthy Diets Linked To Lower Risk of Hearing Loss In Women
  16. Hearing Aids
  17. Hearing Aids
  18. Hearing Aids
  19. Hearing Disorders and Deafness
  20. Hearing Loss
  21. Hearing Loss
  22. Hearing Loss
  23. Hearing Loss Association of America
  24. Hearing Loss: A Common Problem for Older Adults [+ Video: Older Adults and Hearing Loss]
  25. Hearing Loss: A Common Problem for Older Adults – Signs of Hearing Loss
  26. Hearing Loss: Symptoms
  27. Hearing Loss: Treatment
  28. Hearing Tests
  29. Hearing Tests for Adults
  30. Hearing and, Most Importantly, Understanding
  31. Hearing, Ear Infections, and Deafness
  32. Hearinglink.org [United Kingdom]
  33. How Can I Tell If I Have Hearing Loss?
  34. How Do I Know If I Have Hearing Loss Caused By Loud Noise? 10 Signs of Hearing Loss
  35. How Do I Prevent Hearing Loss From Loud Noise?
  36. Is Tinnitus Making You Miserable?
  37. Is Your Hearing At Risk?
  38. Living [Topics]
  39. Loud Noise Can Cause Hearing Loss
  40. Loud and Clear: What To Know About Hearing Loss
  41. May Is Better Hearing and Speech Month
    Hearing Loss
  42. Mayo Clinic Minute: Are Your Headphones Too Loud?
  43. Mayo Clinic Minute: Can You Slow Down Age-Related Hearing Loss? [+ Video]
  44. Mayo Clinic Minute: Hearing Aids Not ‘One-Size-Fits-All’ [+ Video]
  45. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Hearing Issues Affects Your Brain Health [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  46. Mayo Clinic Minute: Is Tinnitus Causing That Ringing In Your Ear? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  47. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Is Hearing Loss? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  48. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Are Over-the-Counter Hearing Devices A Fit for You?
  49. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Tips for Reducing Risk of Hearing Loss
  50. Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause
  51. Menopause and Women’s Health In Later Life
  52. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
  53. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: Health Information – Health Topics
  54. National Protect Your Hearing Month [October, United States]
  55. Other Products and Devices To Improve Hearing
  56. Prevention
  57. Rnid.org [Royal National Institute for Deaf People, United Kingdom]
  58. Science In 5: Episode #93 – Hearing Loss
  59. The Scoop on Earwax
  60. Tinnitus
  61. What If I Already Have Hearing Loss?
  62. What Mayo Clinic Experts Want You To Know About Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network. Name Super/GC: Cindy Hogan, Ph.D./Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery/Mayo Clinic]
  63. What Noises Cause Hearing Loss?
  64. World Hearing Day 2024 (3 March 2023)
  65. World Hearing Day 2024: Introduction Webinar
  66. Your Hearing [Topics]

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Age-Related Hearing Loss: What Is Age-Related Hearing Loss? Last Updated Date: 17 March 2023. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/Pages/Age-Related-Hearing-Loss.aspx Accessed: 30 October 2023
  2. Hearing Loss. Updated Date: 30 May 2022. MedlinePlus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003044.htm Accessed: 30 October 2023
  3. Hearing Loss: Considerations. Updated Date: 30 May 2022. MedlinePlus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003044.htm Accessed: 30 October 2023
  4. Hearing Loss: A Common Problem for Older Adults. Content Reviewed: 19 January 2023. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hearing-loss-common-problem-older-adults Accessed: 30 October 2023
  5. Age-Related Hearing Loss: What Is Age-Related Hearing Loss? Last Updated Date: 17 March 2023. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/Pages/Age-Related-Hearing-Loss.aspx Accessed: 30 October 2023
  6. Age-Related Hearing Loss: What Is Age-Related Hearing Loss? Last Updated Date: 17 March 2023. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/Pages/Age-Related-Hearing-Loss.aspx Accessed: 30 October 2023
  7. North American Menopause Society Menopause Guidebook: 5 Midlife Body Changes – Vision and Hearing: Hearing. 8th Edition 2015:42
  8. Hearing Loss: A Common Problem for Older Adults – Signs of Hearing Loss. Content Reviewed: 19 January 2023. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hearing-loss-common-problem-older-adults Accessed: 30 October 2023
  9. Hearing Loss: When To Contact A Medical Professional. Updated Date: 30 May 2022. MedlinePlus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003044.htm Accessed: 30 October 2023
  10. Hearing Loss: Overview. Page Last Reviewed: 06 December 2021. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hearing-loss/ Accessed: 30 October 2023
Topic Last Updated: 09 February 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 30 October 2023

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