Hearing Coversation

1. HSE LEARNING TOPIC – HEARING CONSERVATION
Hearing loss a growing concern that affects about 1 in 16 worldwide.
To conserve your hearing you need to understand how the hearing process works, and how to
protect this process from an early age onwards.
Causes of hearing loss
There are many different causes for hearing loss, the most common of which can be listed:
• hearing loss occurs gradually with age – this is common.
•Long term exposure to noise causes wear and tear on the sensitive hairs and nerve cells inside
the cochlea.
• Family history of hearing problems.
•Physical injury such as ruptured eardrum, injury to the head and neck.
• Illnesses or infections that cause high fever ( such as meningitis).
•Some medication – such as certain chemotherapy drugs, high doses of asprin, anti - malaria
drugs.
•Unhealthy lifestyles – health risks associated with physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, smoking,
excessive alcohol intake may contribute to hearing loss.
•Vitamin A and Iron deficiencies have been found to play a role in hearing loss.
•Earwax blockage – excessive build up of wax in the ear canals could interfere with sound reaching
the eardrum.

2. HSE LEARNING TOPIC – HEARING CONSERVATION
Signs and symptoms of hearing loss
• Muffled quality to speech and other sounds
• Difficulty understanding words, especially against background noise or in a crowd of people
• Frequently having to ask others to repeat themselves or speak more slowly, clearly and loudly.
• Difficulty hearing a conversation over the telephone
• Difficulty or failure hearing normal household sounds such as a microwave oven “beep” or a
ringing bell.
• Needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio, often to the extent that others complain
that’s it’s too loud.
• Withdrawal from conversations.
• Avoidance of some social settings.
Preventing hearing loss
• Wearing ear protection. Earplugs or earmuffs can reduce noise by 15-30db.
•Have your hearing tested regularly. A qualified health professional can perform a variety of tests
to monitor your hearing and detect changes.
• Be aware of recreational activities that can damage your hearing.
•Never put foreign objects in your ears.
•Treat middle ear infection as soon as possible.