Hearing Loss - The Facts

Untreated hearing loss is a major health and quality of life issue Hearing loss isn’t just an ear issue, it’s a health issue. It can occur for natural reasons, but other causes might surprise you.

People with mild hearing loss are 3x more likely to have a history of falling.

Older adults with impaired hearing may have a shorter lifespan than their peers without hearing problems.
*70 years and older

Doctor taking blood pressure of older patient

There is a significant association between high blood pressure and untreated hearing loss.

People* with a hearing loss experience a 30-40% faster decline in cognitive abilities compared to peers without hearing loss.

*75 years and older

Adults with untreated hearing loss were more likely to report depression, anxiety and paranoia than peers who wore hearing aids

Understanding Hearing Loss

How We Hear & How Hearing Loss Occurs

To understand why hearing loss is so pervasive, it’s important to first understand how hearing loss happens.
Hearing loss happens when any part of our delicate hearing system stops working properly, whether it’s due to damage or deterioration. The most susceptible and common parts to break down are the microscopic stereocilia, the thousands of tiny hair cells that detect and send sound impulses to the brain.
When these tiny hair cells become injured, diseased or die naturally, the result is nerve loss. This is by far the most common type of hearing loss.

What To Expect At Your First Appointment

What to expect at your first appointmet

You took the most difficult step toward improving your hearing when you took the first one — recognizing you need to find out more about your hearing loss and improving your situation. Everything after that is easy, including your initial hearing consultation. Most appointments consist of at least these three steps:

1. Hearing Analysis

After answering questions to establish your general health and hearing history, you will undergo a thorough hearing examination.

First, both ears will be visually examined to see if there are any obstructions in the ear canal that might be affecting your hearing.
Then, you’ll be tested with the latest standard-of-care methods and technology to precisely determine the degree and type of hearing loss you have. This quick and painless test consists of listening and reacting to pure tones in a sound treated booth.
Your results will be illustrated in a detailed audiogram that your hearing healthcare professional will review with you.

2. Lifestyle Discussion

Next will be a lifestyle assessment. In this conversation, you will discuss what you may have stopped doing or how your relationships with family and friends have been impacted by hearing loss. This is an important step — as your answers help ensure that any solution prescribed is customized specifically for your needs.

3. Solution Options

Once the evaluation and assessment are complete, the hearing healthcare professional will explain your solution options. If it’s determined that hearing aids can help, you’ll get a personalized demonstration of the different instruments that are appropriate for your level of hearing loss as well as your preferences for size, colour, and features.