Hearing loss can cause you to miss out on your favorite fall sounds, from the crunching of leaves at Rockford Park to the crackle of a bonfire and even the sound of geese overhead flying south for the winter. Fortunately, October is Audiology Awareness Month, which means there’s no better time to seek treatment for your hearing loss.
Visit an Expert Audiologist
Audiologists are experts in the auditory system, which means they can:
- Conduct thorough hearing evaluations.
- Select and fit hearing aids.
- Map cochlear implants and bone-anchored hearing aids.
- Counsel families on hearing loss.
- Educate about communication strategies.
- Design and implement auditory rehabilitation and communication programs.
- Evaluate and provide treatment for tinnitus.
- Diagnose and manage balance disorders.
- Work in a variety of settings, from private practices to research hospitals.
- Collaborate with otolaryngologists, speech-language pathologists and early intervention specialists.
Most audiologists hold Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degrees and are board-certified by the American Academy of Audiology (AAA).
In short, audiologists are the experts you trust when it comes to your hearing health care.
Facts About Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is common. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders compiled this list of facts about hearing loss prevalence:
- Approximately two to three of every 1,000 babies born in the U.S. have hearing loss.
- Over 90% of deaf children are born to parents who can hear.
- Around 15% of adults over the age of 18 in the U.S. report some trouble hearing.
- One in eight people over the age of 12 in the U.S. has hearing loss based on standard hearing evaluations.
- Nearly 18% of adults ages 20 to 69 who have worked in noisy occupations have speech frequency hearing loss in both ears, compared to 5.5% for those who have never worked at a noisy job.
- About 2% of adults ages 45 to 54 have disabling hearing loss; for those ages 55 to 64 this number jumps to 8.5%; for those ages 65 to 74 this number is 25% and for those ages 75 and older the number is 50%.
- Fewer than 30% of people over age 70 who could benefit from hearing aids has actually worn them. For those ages 20 to 69 this number is closer to 16%.
- Roughly 10% of the U.S. adult population has experienced tinnitus in the past year.
For more information about audiologists, hearing loss or Audiology Awareness Month, call the experts at Wilmington Audiology today.