Hearing
Hearing is one of our five senses. Hearing gives us access to sounds in the world around us— people’s voices, their words, a car
horn blown in warning or as hello!
Hearing refers to our ability to perceive noise and sounds. Our hearing is used to listen to music, talk to people and assess social
and environmental situations. Humans actually have a fairly narrow range of hearing compared to other species, and the structures
that allow us to hear are susceptible to many conditions that can jeopardize our hearing abilities.
The distinction between listening and hearing is important. Listening is something that you do consciously when you’re trying to
interpret or understand a sound that you heard. Although they are different, without hearing, you would not be able to listen. Not being
able to hear the world around you can often lead to depression and feelings of isolation.
Hearing Is So Important
Most people are able to understand that hearing is important, but have trouble articulating exactly why. The sounds you hear each
day serve to make your life richer. Birds chirping, a child laughing or your favourite song have value that is intangible, but still shapes
your everyday life in ways that we often take for granted.
Your hearing is also a learning tool, warning us of potential danger and allowing us to pick up on social cues. Hearing fire alarms, a
telephone ringing or a car horn can all be extremely important in a dangerous situation. If you can’t hear the sounds around you, you
may miss something critical. Hearing is one of our most precious senses, and is crucial for remembering the world around us. A
memory is not as crisp if you cannot hear what was in the background. Whether you’re imagining the sound of your favourite band
or your mother’s singing voice, hearing is part of the way your brain remembers.
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is when you’re unable to partially or completely hear sound in one or both of your ears. Hearing loss typically occurs gradually over time. It may be present at birth or acquired at any time afterwards and can be temporary or permanent. In children, hearing problems can affect the ability to learn spoken language, and in adults it can create difficulties with social interaction and at work. Hearing loss related to age usually affects both ears and is due to cochlear hair cell loss.
Benefit of Treating Hearing Loss
When it comes to hearing loss, there is very little argument for not treating it. Long term untreated hearing loss can have profound physical, mental, and emotional effects for individual. But there is substantial evidence that taking steps to improve our hearing will go a long way to ensuring our physical and mental well-being as we age.
Individuals who seek treatment for their hearing loss see improvements in all aspects of their lives. There are many benefits to treating our hearing loss. Here are just a few:
- Better Communication
- Better Cognition Health
- Improved Safety
- Increased Mobility
- A Richer Soundscape
- Greater Enjoyment of Activities
- Improved Psychological Well-Being.
- Stronger Relationships.
- Tinnitus Relief.
- Better Performance at Work