Hearing Assessment
Call today to schedule an appointment to have your hearing screened.
704-384-7434
Age
About one-third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing problems and about half the people who are 85 and older have hearing loss. As people age, they may experience difficulty hearing and/or ringing in their ears. Individuals who experience symptoms of hearing loss should undergo a hearing screening.
Family History
If you have family members who have hearing loss, particularly early-onset hearing loss, you and your family members may be at a higher risk for developing hearing loss.
Birth Complications
If a child is born prematurely, has a low birth weight or if the mother or child experience birth complications, the child may be at risk for developing hearing loss, which can happen immediately or later in childhood. Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension Children (PPH), jaundice (hyperfilirubinemia) or a low apgar score following the child's birth are other risk factors, and children with these should have their hearing checked regularly at certain ages and into adulthood. Learn more.
Overexposure to Loud Noises
Exposure to loud sounds for long time periods on a regular basis can cause permanent damage to hearing. In jobs where loud noise is a part of the work environment, such as construction or factory work, special protective headphones should be worn to prevent hearing loss. Listening to music too loud or hobbies such as motorcycling can also damage your hearing, so when possible keep controllable sounds at reasonable levels.
Medication
Some antibiotics, chemotherapy, high doses of aspirin ar nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), antimalarial drugs and loop diuretics can cause hearing loss, particularly in children. Ask your doctor if you or your child are taking any of these medications and experience hearing loss symptoms.
Illness
Certain illnesses that cause high fever, such as meningitis, can damage your inner ear and result in hearing loss. Diabetes, thyroid problems and heart disease are just a few other diseases that can cause hearing loss.
Other factors
Additional reasons for hearing loss include head trauma, history of ear infections, foreign body in ear canal, perforated eardrum or growth in ear canal or middle ear space.
If you have one of the following risk factors and/or are experiencing symptoms of hearing loss, call 704-384-7434 to schedule a hearing screening.
