Written by Michael LeMay, Au.D. |
Myth: Hearing loss affects only “old people” and is just another sign of aging.
Fact: Hearing loss affects all age groups. There are close to 6 million people in the United States between the ages of 18 and 44 with hearing loss and more than one million are school-age. Actually, only 35 percent of people with hearing loss are older than age 64.
Myth: The best way to clean ears is to use Q-tips.
Fact: Ear nose and throat physicians, audiologists, and those in the hearing healthcare field, without exception, do not advise the use of Q-tips for cleaning ears. Using Q-tips is dangerous and can result in damage to the ear canal and eardrum. They simply push the debris further into the ear, making them not effective for cleaning wax from the ears. The old saying, “do not put anything into your ear except your elbow” is good advice.
Myth: I have one bad ear, but the other ear is okay.
Fact: Although possible, this situation is unlikely. Most patients who believe that they have one “good’ ear actually have two “bad” ears. When one ear is slightly better than the other, individuals learn to favor that ear for the telephone and group conversations. This can give the illusion that “the better ear” is normal when it isn’t. Most types of hearing loss affect both ears fairly equally, and most patients are in need of hearing instruments for both ears.
Myth: If I start to use hearing aid technology, my hearing will get worse due to the extra noise exposure from the amplification of loud sounds.
Fact: Modern hearing instruments are individually custom fit to amplify soft sounds that patients need to hear, and they can be adjusted by an audiologist to provide very little if any amplification for loud sounds. An exception to this would be the mail-order hearing devices advertised on the Internet and infomercials which are of poor quality and very easily could cause further hearing damage.
Myth: If I had hearing loss, my family doctor certainly would have told me.
Fact: Not true! Research has demonstrated that only 14 percent of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical. Looking in the ear canal for excessive wax, infection, or foreign bodies does not provide information about hearing. Most people with hearing impairment hear well in a quiet environment like a doctor’s office so it is virtually impossible for your physician to recognize the extent of your problem. It is important to ask your doctor for a referral to an audiologist for a complete evaluation if you are experiencing a problem.
References:
1. Carmen, Richard E,. Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids a Bridge to Healing,. Sedona, 2009 first printing — advanced release.
2. Courtois, Jean Earwax and foreign bodies in the ear canal. Vaerlodse, Widex, 1995
For more info, contact Michael LeMay, Au.D. at (775) 323-5566, specializing in Audiology.
