Symptons of hearing loss:

●	Misunderstanding conversation
●	Loss of confidence
●	Avoiding group meeting - social occasions or family gatherings where listening may be difficult
●	Asking others to repeat themselves
●	Difficulty hearing TV, radio or telephone
●	Difficulty hearing in public gatherings, concert halls - distant sound sources Finding it tiring to listen to conversations because you have to concentrate hard?

 Causes of hearing loss:

It can happen at any age, and can be due to:

●	Natural ageing process. More than 50% of people over 60 have a hearing loss.
●	Exposure to loud or constant noise
●	Illness or complications at birth
●	Toxic medications
●	Ear infection, trauma or injury.  Genetics – About one in every thousand babies are born moderately to profoundly deaf. Some people are genetically more prone to loss their hearing in later life.

Types of hearing loss:

There are two major types of hearing loss and both can occur in the same person. To understand them, it helps to understand how the ear works. Your outer ear gathers sound waves from the environment and funnels them to the ear canal. At the end of the canal, the waves strike the eardrum, causing it to vibrate. Three tiny bones in the middle ear conduct the vibrations from the eardrum to the cochlea a spiral-shaped chamber (that looks like a snail) in the inner ear.

Conductive hearing loss

If anything interferes with the transfer of sound waves, the resulting type of hearing loss is called conductive.

It is a disorder of the outer/or middle ear which results in difficulties in hearing. This is commonly treated medically or through ear surgery. Conductive hearing loss may be temporary or permanent.

Sensorineural hearing loss

Also, known as nerve deafness. Disorder in the inner ear. Normally, the vibrations from the middle ear create waves in the fluid inside the cochlea. The waves in turn stimulate thousands of delicate hair cells that line the cochlea. Their movement generates nerve impulses in the auditory nerve, which lies just beyond the cochlea and carries the impulses to the brain. Ultimately the brain interprets and makes sense of sound, distinguishing and giving meaning to words, music and everything else you hear. Anything that damages the hair cells or blocks the transmission of the nerve impulses can lead to sensorineural hearing loss. Such hearing loss is irreversible. Tremendous advances in hearing instrument technology enable most patients to be significantly rehabilitated.

Mixed hearing loss

Contains elements of both Conductive and Sensorineural hearing Loss. If you suspect you need to have a hearing test, it will be in your best interest to book an appointment as soon as possible.  Nearly all people with hearing problems can be helped by hearing aids.