By Neil W. Aiello, Au.D., FAAA, CCC-A
Doctor of Audiology
Cheif Operations Officer
Columbia Basin Hearing Center
1149 N. Edison Street, Suite D
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 736-4005
www.columbiabasinhearing.com
Adults are now living longer. But with increased longevity comes a corresponding increase in the incidence of hearing loss, dizziness and balance problems. Each of these conditions are common problems among the senior population. Some revealing statistics from the National Institute on Aging include:
- Approximately one-third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing problems.
- Nearly half the people who are 75 or older have hearing loss.
- As many as 40% of all adults will experience dizziness severe enough to warrant reporting it to their doctor.
In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, over 90 million Americans will experience dizziness or vertigo in their lifetime. Dizziness or vertigo is the #1 complaint of patients over the age of 70, and is the third most frequent complaint among all patients after headache and back pain. Approximately 85% of all vertigo and balance problems are due to an inner-ear incident.
Hearing loss can have many causes including aging of the auditory system, overexposure to loud noises over a period of time, infections, ear wax buildup in the ear canal, heart conditions or stroke, head injuries, tumors, certain medicines and heredity. Common symptoms of hearing loss include; if you often can hear people talking, but simply have difficulty understanding them; struggling to hear conversations clearly in background noise or in group situations; having difficulty hearing over the telephone or needing to turn the TV volume higher so that others complain. These Sound Voids ™ are the result of some form of hearing loss, either temporary or permanent, and may result in situations where an individual’s hearing loss does not permit them to detect or understand important sound and speech cues. Individuals often find that Sound Voids result in tiring, frustrating, and embarrassing situations.
Dizziness is a symptom with a multitude of possible causes. Determining the underlying cause is one of the biggest challenges for physicians. The most common causes are related to the inner ear; therefore, referral to an audiologist is highly recommended. Other causes include central nervous system problem in the brain or brainstem, related heart conditions, medications, as well as infections of the inner-ear or vestibular nerve. Specificity is the key to finding the source of the problem. The more specific you can be about when the symptoms began, when they are most likely to occur and exactly what they feel like will help the audiologist or physician develop a more accurate diagnosis. Be aware that determining the source of dizziness is very complex and difficult to localize. In fact, many times the exact source of the dizziness is never found. However, more serious sources of the problem are ruled out.
According to a distinguished expert in the field of dizziness and balance disorders; Doctors of Audiology have an educational and clinical advantage in the identification and diagnosis of many forms of dizziness and vertigo problems. The high incidence of inner ear symptoms with balance and vertigo disorders, in conjunction with the increasing number of elderly patients that need our expertise is on the rise. In fact, many insurance companies are seeing the proven benefits and under-utilization of Doctors of Audiology who specialize in dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders.
If you or your loved ones have hearing loss, Sound Voids™, dizziness, vertigo and/or balance problems, seek out your local Doctor of Audiology for the latest in modern professional hearing, dizziness and balance services. General information on these topics can be found online at www.ColumbiaBasinHearing.com , www.audigygroup.com or www.dizzy.com
Definitions:
Audiologists (noun): are autonomous professionals who identify, assess, and manage disorders of the auditory, balance, and other neural systems. Audiologists provide audiological (hearing) rehabilitation to children and adults across the entire age span. Audiologists select, fit, and dispense amplification systems such as hearing aids and related devices. Audiologists currently hold a Master’s or Doctoral degrees in audiology from an accredited university or professional school.
Sound Void™ (noun):
- A moment lacking in clarity in hearing or understanding.
- An empty space in one’s life caused by the absence of sound clarity.
Hearing Loss (noun):
- Impairment of the sense of hearing.
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Man, at 41 I am starting to realize that getting old is no bowl of fruit but I had not known that dizziness was associated with hearing issues. It makes a great deal of sense since balance is tied directly to the ears, I guess I had not put 2 and 2 together. Great post, the more we know the sooner we can identify these issues and react.