Health Tips, Coastlines

                        What You Need to Know About Hearing Loss

Approximately 10% of Americans have some hearing loss.  Only about half seek professional help.  

Here are some common Signs of Hearing Loss: 

• You misunderstand or need to have things repeated
• You find yourself watching people’s faces intently when you are listening to them
• You have been exposed to high noise levels such as machinery or firearms without protective gear
• You believe that everybody mumbles or isn’t speaking clearly
• You find yourself straining to understand conversations
• You increase the television volume to a point that others complain
• You have a family history of hearing loss
• You have been exposed to ototoxic drugs or medications
• You have recurring ear infections or constant ringing in the ears
• You have diabetes, heart, thyroid, or circulation problems

If you suspect you have hearing loss, seek professional help.  See a physician specializing in ear, nose and throat medicine (M.D. or D.O.) or consult an audiologist (a graduate (doctorate or master) degree is required for audiologists).

Just because you have hearing loss does not mean you need a hearing aid.  And just because you get a hearing aid does not mean that you will hear better.  To determine the need for a hearing aid, get a full audiogram, and don’t rely just on “screenings.”  You need a complete hearing examination.  Hearing aids don’t help with all types of hearing loss, and selecting the right hearing aid requires personal evaluation of your health, the nature of your hearing loss, your occupation and lifestyle. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jacki Taylor, Executive Director

Emerald Coast Health Alliance, an Independent Practice Association that serves the community through a multi-specialty network of 165 quality healthcare providers, conveniently located in Okaloosa and Walton counties.

As a community service, the Emerald Coast Health Alliance provides free medication cards so you can write down all the medications you take.  The card has plenty of space, folds to the size of a credit card, and can be easily kept in your wallet.  For your free medication card, call 862-8904, and we’ll send you one.