Hearing, an Invaluable Sense

Sound passes through all three parts of the ear: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear picks up sound and directs it through the ear canal to the eardrum. The vibrations of the eardrum send the sound to the middle ear, which contains the three ossicles. The movement of the ossicles carries the sound to the cochlea (inner ear), where it is converted into an electrical signal that continues along the auditory nerve to the brain. While the ear is what picks up and transmits sounds, it’s the brain that processes them and gives them meaning. If you have hearing loss, an audiologist will be able to determine which part of the ear is causing the issue.

There are different causes of hearing loss: aging, infection, trauma, reactions to medication and more. Untreated hearing loss can seriously affect a person’s well-being. New research shows a link between untreated hearing loss and accelerated progression of conditions such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, depression and sensory deprivation in the brain, which in turn can affect the ability to understand speech and other sounds. Fortunately, these effects can be significantly reduced if the hearing loss is treated quickly.

Early diagnosis of hearing loss means access to a wider variety of treatment options, assistive listening devices and hearing aids to better communicate with those around you. The technologies, features and type of hearing aids will depend on individual needs, which are determined following a hearing assessment.

It’s important to choose the hearing aid features that will best suit your lifestyle. For example, an outgoing person who is often in noisy social situations will want hearing aids with a good ambient noise manager. People who use their cell phones a lot will prioritize smartphone compatibility. For active people, water resistance will be an important feature.

By wearing hearing aids, you’re investing in your health so you can better interact with the world around you. Hearing aids contain sophisticated features, and technology means they can be customized to meet everyone’s communication needs. Hearing aid manufacturers are dedicating more and more R&D resources to technological advances that make hearing more natural and effortless for patients.

All you need to do is take the first step: book an appointment for a hearing assessment today!