Video: Are you deaf or do you find it difficult to hear?
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(Ministry of Health, NZ, 2018)
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This video may take a few moments to load.
(Ministry of Health, NZ, 2018)
The outer part of your ear is designed to move sound in the air into your ear canal. Sound waves are changed into mechanical vibrations at your eardrum.
Your eardrum is attached to 3 bones that act as a lever to enhance sounds while moving them through your middle ear. The last of these bones are attached to an oval window with a thin tissue cover. This is the entry to your inner ear (the cochlea).
The cochlea is a snail-shaped tube. It contains sensory hearing cells on a flexible membrane. When the oval window vibrates, the membrane and sensory hearing cells move. The outer of these cells boost soft sounds and dampen loud sounds. The inner hair cells transfer sound information to your auditory nerve.
Your auditory nerve transfers sound information to various parts of your brain so you can process and make meaning of it.
Image credit: 123rf
There are 2 main types of hearing loss in adults.
This is where something gets in the way of sound being conveyed through your ear as described above. This type of hearing loss leads to a loss of loudness – it’s like listening to someone speaking very softly or from a distance.
The sensory hearing cells in your inner ear can be malformed or become damaged, leading to sensory hearing loss. This type of hearing loss reduces clarity as well as loudness. It’s distorted so that you find it hard to understand – a bit like listening to a language you don’t know.
Hearing loss can also be caused by a combination of these 2 types, and by auditory hearing loss. This doesn't cause loss of loudness, but it can cause problems with understanding what you hear.
Conductive hearing loss can be caused by:
Sensory hearing loss can be caused by:
Other causes include:
You are likely to be experiencing hearing loss if you:
Take this online hearing test(external link) to see how good your hearing is or answer the following questions. If you answer yes to one or more of them, see your doctor who can arrange an assessment for you.
If you have sudden hearing loss, see your doctor urgently.
If you notice – or other people notice – that your hearing is getting worse, see your doctor. They will refer you to a specialist to carry out some tests to measure your hearing.
If your hearing loss is not sudden, see an audiologist or hearing therapist to have your hearing assessed. There is no charge to see a hearing therapist and you may able to get funding assistance to see an audiologist. You can use this link to find your nearest audiologist(external link) and this link to find your nearest hearing therapist.(external link)
The treatment of your hearing loss will depend on what is causing it. It’s important to seek treatment as researchers have found that if hearing loss is left untreated, it can make you more vulnerable to dementia after years of straining to hear.
Your doctor or nurse can treat earwax build-up with ear drops, syringing or other methods. Read more about earwax build-up and removal.
If you have an ear infection, your doctor can prescribe medication to clear it up.
Hearing aids are effective in treating sensory hearing loss due to ageing or excessive noise. Using hearing aids is much like wearing glasses. You’ll be able to enjoy life far more if you can hear what’s going on.
Otosclerosis is sometimes treated by surgery or through the use of hearing aids. Surgery can rarely help if you have sensorineural hearing loss, except for cochlear implants if you have profound deafness.
You may find it useful to look at some Hearing test apps.
Hearing NZ(external link) An organisation to improve the quality of life for people with hearing loss.
The National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing NZ An organisation that promotes the rights, interests and welfare of New Zealanders with hearing loss.
Deaf Aotearoa(external link) A national organisation representing the voice of Deaf people, and the national service provider for Deaf people in NZ.
The Pindrop Foundation NZ(external link) A voice for NZ adults who are affected by a severe hearing loss and need a cochlear implant to restore their hearing.
Life Unlimited(external link) Provides free hearing evaluations, information and support.
NZ Audiology Society(external link) Audiologists are specialists at diagnosing hearing problems and the non-medical treatment of hearing loss.
Hearing Dogs NZ(external link) Hearing Dogs NZ is an independent charitable trust that assesses, selects, trains and places Hearing Dogs with deaf and severely hearing impaired New Zealanders. Hearing Dogs are placed at no charge to the deaf person receiving the dog.
National Foundation for Deaf & Hard of Hearing NZ An organisation aiming to help the Deaf and hard of hearing community through advocacy, connection, education, collaboration and rehabilitation.
There is funding for hearing aids(external link) available. There are also lots of products(external link) that can improve your quality of life with hearing loss, such as telephones, tv and telephone amplifiers, personal listening devices and so on.
There are a number of things you can do to help protect your hearing. These include:
Read more about how to protect your hearing.
The following links provide further information about hearing loss. Be aware that websites from other countries may have information that differs from New Zealand recommendations.
Hearing problems(external link) Patient Info, UK, 2018
Hearing loss of older people(external link) Patient Info, UK, 2018
Otosclerosis(external link) Patient Info, UK, 2018
Are you deaf or do you find it difficult to hear?(external link) Ministry of Health, NZ, 2010
Hearing loss – are you affected?(external link) The National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing NZ 2011
Your ears – How ears hear(external link) Hearing New Zealand
Losing your hearing(external link) Hearing New Zealand
Hearing aids [PDF, 750 KB]Hearing New Zealand
Cochlear implants(external link) Hearing New Zealand
Hearing loss introduction?(external link) WorkSafe, NZ
Funding options(external link) Hearing Association NZ
What works – hearing loss and healthy ageing(external link) NHS UK, 2017
Caring for your ears(external link) Hearing Association of NZ
Making life easier – products and services to help you hear(external link) Hearing Association of NZ
Equipment and aids(external link) Whaikaka Ministry of Disabled People
Deaf or hearing loss equipment for adults(external link) Whaikaka Ministry of Disabled People
Find your nearest audiologist(external link)
Find your nearest hearing therapist(external link)
Deafness in adults(external link) Patient Info, UK, 2014
Exeter DJ, Wu B, Lee AC, Searchfield GD. The projected burden of hearing loss in NZ (2011-2061) and the implications for the hearing health workforce(external link). NZ J Med, 2015 Aug 7;128(1419)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)(external link) Inside Radiology, Australia
Assessment of occupational noise-induced hearing loss for ACC(external link) ACC, NZ
Hearing loss services and ACC(external link) ACC, NZ
Ministry of Health, NZ, 2010
The National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing NZ 2011
Hearing New Zealand
Credits: Healthify editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.
Reviewed by: Dr Helen Kenealy, geriatrician and general physician
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