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Sherry Rice DuPerier
Sherry Rice DuPerier, M.S., CCC-A holds a Master's degree in Audiology and serves as Staff Audiologist for Hearing HealthCare Associates. She is a licensed Audiologist and a licensed Hearing Instrument Dispenser with 25 years experience in fitting and dispensing hearing instruments. In addition she holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association and certification through the National Board for Hearing Instrument Sciences. She can be contacted at Hearing HealthCare Associates, 216 E. 1st, Wichita, phone (316) 264-8870, or (800) 962-6697; or by e-mail at hha@ibsol.net
Audiology
2002-09-01 09:13:00
How does it begin?
Sherry Rice DuPerier Question:  How does one know when he/she is first experiencing a hearing loss?Answer:  Hearing loss is known as the "silent epidemic" since it very commonly sneaks up on us. In addition it is easy to believe that hearing is normal - it's just the way a person speaks - or the noise in a room etc. Most often hearing loss becomes noticeable after age 50 or 60 - and since it is our nature to associate hearing loss with age, many people deny the loss in an effort to deny the aging process. As noted, causes of hearing loss are numerous. In general there are two major categories -conductive and sensorineural. When aspects of both types exist we call it a mixed loss. Conductive losses effect the outer ear, middle ear or both. In most cases medication or surgery can restore the hearing to a normal range. Typically a conductive loss causes a loss of sensitivity (volume) but once the loudness is restored the ability to understand is excellent as there is no damage to the sensory portion. Common causes of conductive loss are:Otitis media - Middle ear fluid. This is common in children and may be treated with antibiotics and possibly ventilation tubes that are placed in the eardrum.Perforation (hole) in the eardrum.Wax blockage or other obstruction in the outer ear.Otosclerosis - a build up of calcium deposits on the stapes (one of the small bones in the middle ear). Removal of the bone and replacement with a prosthetic device is a common method of correction. Sensorineural losses are by far the most common type. They effect the inner ear and can not be corrected by surgery or medication. In the case of a sensorineural hearing loss sensitivity to tones is reduced but understanding is also impaired. Scores for word understanding tests can range from very poor to quite good. The ability to understand is a key factor in the person's ability to adapt to hearing instruments. The most common cause of sensorineural hearing loss is presbycusis or age related hearing loss. Other causes are:Exposure to loud noises.HeredityMeniere's Disease - a condition where hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing) and vertigo (dizziness) exist. Hearing may also fluctuate. There are many other causes for hearing loss - but these are some of the more common. Whether the loss is conductive or sensorineural there are many common warning signs that indicate the presence of a hearing loss - the 10 most common are listed below.1. People seem to mumble. 2. You hear but have trouble understanding. 3. You often ask people to repeat. 4. You find telephone conversations increasingly difficult. 5. Your family complains that you play the TV or radio too loud. 6. You no longer hear normal sounds like dripping faucets or door bells. 7. You have trouble hearing when your back is turned to the speaker. 8. You've been told you speak too loudly. 9. You experience ringing in your ears. 10. You have difficulty understanding when you are in a large group or crowd. Finding yourself in the "Yes column" of 2 or more of these conditions may mean a hearing loss of some degree. A hearing evaluation to determine at what level a person hears a series of approximately 8 different frequencies is recommended. If the hearing is not within normal limits additional testing to determine type of loss and ability to understand speech will be performed. If the hearing is essentially normal you have a baseline for future reference, or if a loss is found you have the foundation to begin a discussion on the options available to improve your quality of life through better hearing.
 
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