HEARING LOSS: Only the Facts By DR. KATHLEEN COATES, AUDIOLOGIST/OWNER OF COATES HEARING CLINIC
One of the missions at our clinic in Smithfield is to educate our community about hearing loss and the importance of treatment. We operate on an evidencebased approach, meaning that anything we test and recommend for patients is based on research. Why is education important? Prevention. The main point in educating you and our patients on these links is to help create a prevention plan and implement early treatment. So, here are the facts: Though hearing loss can happen at any age, 33% of Americans between ages 65-74 experience hearing loss, and
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it happens to nearly 50% of people over 75. Age-related hearing loss is often referred to as presbycusis. It typically affects certain sounds first, such as high pitched or soft sounds. Most patients with presbycusis start to notice difficulty with comprehension of conversations and hearing in group settings. Understanding what is being said on the television or over the phone can also be challenging. These changes typically happen gradually, so a family member, friend or spouse is often the one who notices the signs first and encourages the patient to be tested. Hearing loss can be caused by, and is linked with, many health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer treatment, thyroid disorder, kidney disease, balance disorders, stroke and
cognitive decline. We collaborate with your primary care physician, physical therapist, cardiologist and many other specialists for prevention and long-term treatment. A baseline hearing evaluation is recommended for adults over age 65 and anyone who experiences any of these health conditions linked with hearing loss. HEALTH CONDITIONS LINKED WITH HEARING LOSS
• Diabetes: Hearing loss is twice as common in adults with diabetes. Diabetes may damage the blood vessels of the inner ear, and elevated blood sugar levels can cause chemical changes that impact the nervous system, such as the hearing
