Hearing loss is treatable:
No reason for anyone to miss all the important sounds of life

An estimated 28 million Americans have hearing loss. If you think you or a loved is among them, there is help.

This month, Mid-Coast Speech and Hearing in Rockport and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association uses the "May is Better Hearing and Speech Month" celebration at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (asha.org) as a time to encourage Americans to get their hearing tested and determine if they have a hearing loss.

You or a loved one may have a hearing loss if you:

• Frequently ask people to repeat themselves
• Often turn your ear toward a sound to hear it better
• Understand people better when you wear your glasses or look directly at their faces
• Lose your place in group conversations
• Keep the volume on your radio or TV at a level that others say is too loud
• Have pain or ringing in your ears
• Notice that some sounds remain clear (often low-pitched sounds such as the bass line in music) while others may seem fuzzy (frequently women's and children's high-pitched voices)

"People who see themselves in these statements should see an ASHA-certified audiologist for a hearing test," said Craig Daunheimer, a licensed audiologist at Mid-Coast Speech and Hearing, a department of Penobscot Bay Medical Center. "Even a very slight hearing loss can have an impact on your daily life. Hearing loss is treatable, and there is no reason for anyone to miss all the important sounds of life."

As a first step, people who think they may have hearing loss or other hearing disorders should see a certified audiologist. These professionals specialize in preventing, identifying, assessing, and treating hearing disorders. Also, they provide treatment for hearing loss, including properly fitting hearing aids and other assistive listening devices, and they can teach people with hearing loss how to concentrate on hearing all sounds.

Hearing loss often occurs slowly and has many causes, such as exposure to noise or hearing loss associated with aging. Because this type of hearing loss is entirely preventable, ASHA strongly advises that people use noise-canceling headphones or ear plugs when they are in noisy environments or activities.

ASHA recommends that children at risk for hearing loss, such as chronic ear infections or family history of hearing loss, be screened as frequently as needed to ensure they are hearing well. Otherwise, for children ages 5-18, hearing screenings should occur on initial entry into school and annually in kindergarten through 3rd grade as well as in the 7th and 11th grades. Also, an annual hearing checkup is a good idea for people from age 45 and older.

Craig Daunheimer is experienced in hearing evaluations and treatments to improve hearing and enhance communication. He can be reached at 230-6380. Find the Mid-Coast Speech & Hearing web page at pbmc.org.