Hearing Loss

Hearing health support in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles

Why Treating

Hearing Loss Matters

Untreated hearing loss can have a negative impact not only on communication, but on overall health and quality of life. When you can’t hear well due to hearing loss, you may withdraw from family and friends. Over time this can lead to social isolation, feelings of embarrassment, depression, anxiety, and even cognitive decline.

At Hearing Solutions Hearing Aid Center, we offer educational resources and advanced solutions for hearing loss. You’re not alone. Approximately 48 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss. Our hearing specialist offers a wide range of hearing technology that can help you manage your hearing loss.

How Does Hearing Work?

The hearing system is complex and there are a number of functions at work to ensure you hear properly.

First, sound is transmitted through the air as sound waves. The sound waves are collected by the outer ear and sent down the ear canal to the eardrum.
The sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate, setting the tiny bones in the middle into motion.
The motion of these bones causes fluid in the inner ear, the cochlea, to move.
The movement of this fluid inside the inner ear causes the hair cells in the cochlea to bend and change into electrical impulses.
These electrical impulses are transmitted to the hearing nerve and sent up to the brain where they are translated as sound.

Signs of Hearing Loss

Recognizing hearing loss can be difficult, especially if you’ve lost your hearing over the course of a few years. Some signs you should have your hearing checked include:

Voices sound muffled or fragmented
You often respond with “What?” or “Huh?”
You feel tired after conversations
You can hear but you can’t understand what’s being said
You turn the TV volume up louder than others do
You can’t hear the conversation when there is background noise
You hear ringing in your ears (tinnitus)

How To

Prevent Hearing Loss

Although some types of hearing loss are caused by genetics or age, other types of hearing loss can be prevented. Noise induced hearing loss is entirely preventable yet it is one of the main causes of hearing loss in people of all ages.

To prevent noise induced hearing loss, it’s best to avoid exposing yourself to sounds over 85 decibels. Since that can be difficult, especially if you work in an occupation where noise is frequently loud, it is crucial to wear hearing protection.

Hearing protection, such as earplugs, will protect your ears from loud sounds, including loud impact blasts. If you work in a factory, in construction, or in another noisy environment, it’s important to protect your hearing. Earplugs are also necessary for individuals who participate in noisy activities, such as motorsports, live music, or for those who work with power tools. If you are interested in custom hearing protection to keep your ears safe, please contact us.

How to Improve Your Hearing

Many people believe they can live with their hearing loss and don’t ever receive the proper care to manage it. However, when left untreated hearing loss can have a negative impact on your well-being.

Over time hearing loss can cause you to lose your speech comprehension, making it difficult to understand what people are saying. It can also lead to cognitive decline; this is because your brain needs sounds to stay active and healthy. Fortunately, there is a good solution: hearing aids!

Hearing aids can provide your brain with the necessary sounds and frequencies it needs to stay healthy. Hearing aids will also provide you with the proper amplification and clarity to hear your friends and family members. Don’t let hearing loss stop you from enjoying your life. Contact us today to get started on the path to better hearing with hearing aids.