While many people worldwide suffer from hearing loss, everyone has a different story about how they have dealt with this affliction.
Recently, a musician came into our offices at Hearing Associates of Las Vegas who was suffering from hearing loss. Obviously, hearing is a critical part of his career. He complained about an inability to do the job he loved and a fundamental reduction in his overall quality of life.
Thankfully, we were able to guide him through the treatment process, helping him decide on the correct pair of hearing aids. He has regained his hearing and can now fully do his job as an editor and sound mixer.
Musicians and Hearing Loss
Unfortunately, musicians are at a much greater risk of hearing loss and tinnitus than other professions. Studies have shown that 40-50% of musicians experience tinnitus at least occasionally. Tinnitus usually affects around 12% of the global population, but it’s considerably more common in certain professions.
With prolonged exposure to loud noises consistently, it is difficult for most musicians to maintain healthy hearing throughout their professional lives. The fact that this condition can also interfere with their profession is another factor that can make it much more devastating for those who suffer.
In a competitive industry where new artists are constantly looking to break through and disrupt the industry, many musicians feel they always need to be on top of their game. Having a constraint such as hearing loss can significantly hurt a musician’s chances of either breaking through or maintaining success, which can affect both their career and mental well-being.
The Stigma of the Industry
Also, there is a significant stigma around hearing loss or tinnitus in the musical community. Many musicians refuse to talk about or acknowledge their hearing loss, making treatment much more difficult.
Many musicians are unwilling to speak openly about this issue because they believe it might hurt their reputation or opportunities. Because of this, they often suffer alone, hiding their affliction and pain.
However, these musicians are not alone because many people in the industry suffer from tinnitus. The good news in all of this is that long-term relief is possible. A hearing professional can often help restore hearing and make their lives easier.
Hearing aids remain the best option for those with hearing loss and tinnitus. This is particularly effective for musicians and sound engineers, who may begin to hear levels and sounds previously lost to them.
Different Types of Hearing Loss
While many people know of hearing loss and tinnitus, not many know it comes in multiple forms. It can range from mild hearing loss to total hearing loss and profoundly affect a person’s health.
Hearing loss has different degrees of severity, and there are three main types of hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing is hearing loss that mainly occurs when the inner ear or auditory nerve is damaged. Unfortunately, this version of hearing loss is usually permanent.
Conductive hearing loss is a type of hearing loss that occurs when sound is blocked from reaching the ear. This can happen for many reasons, such as an ear wax buildup, an injured eardrum, or some fluid penetrating the ear. Usually, this type of hearing loss is not permanent and can be fixed with surgery or other medical treatments.
Age-related hearing loss, or Presbycusis, is a hearing loss that slowly takes shape as the afflicted gets older. This type of hearing loss is usually genetic. It also tends to occur in both ears and usually affects them equally.
This hearing loss type occurs gradually, so someone might not realize they have significant hearing loss until someone else points it out.
Usually, a symptom of this type of hearing loss is that those who have it usually have tinnitus. Tinnitus is often described as a buzzing, hissing, or roaring. It can be loud or soft, temporary, or permanent, and occur in one or both ears.
The Journey to Healthy Hearing
Sometimes people become shy or introverted as they lose their hearing. One of our clients became very introverted after her hearing started to falter and began relying on lip-reading as a primary method of communication.
This worked well until the pandemic started, and then many people were required to wear masks. This made life challenging, as she could no longer read lips. We were able to help her pick out a pair of hearing aids that significantly changed her life, allowing her to communicate again without relying on reading lips.
Your story might not be as dramatic as some of our clients, but everyone deserves to work, interact with family and friends, and live life to the fullest with their hearing intact.
If you believe you might suffer from hearing loss or tinnitus, it is not too late to do something. Visit Hearing Associates of Las Vegas today to make an appointment and get back on track toward healthy hearing.
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