Is it harder for you to understand normal conversation, especially when there's background noise?  Are sounds starting to seem a bit muffled?  Or do you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves?  If so, you're not alone.  Turn Up The Volume may have been an obscure video magazine from the 1990s but today it's becoming an anthem for millions of Americans, especially as baby boomers hit the Big 6-0. 

While hearing loss affects about one in ten Americans in all age groups, the condition increases significantly with age.  We're born with a set of sensory cells, and at about age 18 we slowly start to lose them.  Age-related hearing loss progresses slowly, so most people don't notice the change until well after age 50. By 55 years of age, 25% of us have developed obvious hearing loss. By the time we reach the age of 75, the number doubles to over 50%.

Unfortunately, the statistics may be changing for younger generations. Hearing loss is increasingly being reported as early as age 40, even among physically healthy people.  Noise associated with our modern lives appears to be a major culprit.  We don't know exactly how many hearing loss cases are noise-induced, but we're routinely being exposed to higher levels of noise than ever before.  Simply listening to music through headphones with your player turned more than halfway up can create dangerous volume levels and result in permanent hearing loss over time.
 
Of course, age and noise aren't the only hearing loss perpetrators.  The auditory system is one of the human body's most complex and delicate sensory systems, and a variety of factors can cause damage or malfunction.   Some forms of hearing loss are hereditary, while others can stem from infections, medications or chemicals, disease or injury.  

Whatever the cause, hearing loss can significantly impact our day-to-day lives – physically, emotionally and mentally.  Helen Keller said, "Loss of vision means losing contact with things, but loss of hearing means losing contact with people."   Hearing loss may make us seem rude, inattentive or less intelligent.  It can lead to fatigue, irritability, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and contribute to impaired memory and paranoia in the elderly.  We may withdraw from social situations to avoid the stress of not hearing.  It can decrease our job effectiveness, damage our important relationships and even put us in personal danger. We can be around our family and friends, yet feel alone.

If you have difficulty hearing, talk to your doctor so you can be tested.  There are many options for treatment that can help you turn down the volume and tune back in to life. 

Learn more about Hearing Loss:

Key Point 1:  Normal hearing requires all components of the physical hearing chain to be functioning properly.  Any breakdown or impairment in that chain, from the ear to the brain, may result in a loss of hearing acuity.

Key Point 2:  Some types of hearing loss are preventable.  Avoidable hearing loss can be due to noise, toxins and injury. 

Key Point 3:  There are personal and societal implications to hearing loss.  However, there are good treatments available, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and surgery.  Technology is constantly improving.