Hearing impairment is a condition affecting over three million Australians. Whilst as many as half the people over the age of 60 experience some form of hearing impairment, it is certainly not a condition confined to later life. In this section we explain types and degrees of hearing loss — how it affects people and their loved ones, in their everyday lives.
Watch the video below to appreciate how hearing loss affects people in the situation they find most difficult - noisy environments. This is based on a severe high frequency hearing loss, contrasted against the same hearing loss aided by a modern hearing solution - the Sonic Touch.
Types of Hearing Loss & Solutions
A common misconception is that hearing loss is akin to “turning down the volume”. Most commonly, hearing loss affects frequencies of sound differently — consequently, this means that people miss parts of words, making conversations hard to follow, as much of the speech may sound like mumbling. In more general terms, hearing loss can be grouped into three main “types”:
Conductive hearing loss
Caused by disorders of the outer and/or middle ear. Physical obstructions or abnormalities may block or inhibit the efficient entry of sound waves from reaching hearing nerves deeper in the ear. The result is an overall lowering of volume and inability to hear faint sounds. These hearing losses are usually temporary and can sometimes be reduced or eliminated by medical intervention or surgery.
Sensorineural hearing loss
Combines two sub-categories. Sensory hearing loss, arising from problems with the inner ear and neural hearing loss, associated with abnormalities of the auditory neural pathway. In most cases, sensorineural hearing loss is permanent and usually affects both ears. This type of hearing loss is commonly treated through the fitting of hearing aids. 
Mixed hearing loss
This is a mixture of both conductive and sensorineural elements.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a "ringing in the ears" that afflicts 1 in 5 Australians. Click here to download information about this condition.
Causes of hearing loss
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when damage or trauma affects the nerve endings in the inner ear or along the nerve pathways to the brain. Such trauma can occur from overexposure to noise, the ageing process, use of certain medications and many other causes. The damage not only lowers the overall hearing level, but also can selectively affect understanding of speech, ability to hear certain frequencies, and other specific symptoms, which are unique to every individual.
Noise more a factor than age.
Exposure to prolonged loud noise is a more common cause of hearing loss than age (see pie chart). Ever-increasing levels of noise pollution are a factor in 
causing hearing loss. Industrial deafness can be caused by long-term exposure to noisy industrial environments.
Noise can do more damage than you may think — and the risk is widespread. Every day, thousands of Australians expose themselves to noise levels that will almost inevitably lead to long-term hearing loss.
Prolonged and repeated exposure to lawn mowers, chainsaws, factory machinery, traffic and engine noise ... and loud music may cause hearing loss. Click on the Loudness Scale chart below to learn the time it takes above indicates the amount of exposure (time) to various sounds levels that may cause permanent hearing loss.
Taking steps to addressing hearing loss.
As hearing loss usually occurs gradually over time, it is often very advanced before people recognise and finally accept that they have a problem. They often compensate for this, making it difficult to perceive the gradual loss of their hearing ability in an objective way. That is why it is often loved ones who persuade or push people to have their first hearing test.
The first step to addressing hearing loss is a FREE Initial Consultation at a HEARINGLife branch.