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Hearing Loss Is On The Rise
for Baby Boomers


If you're a baby boomer, there's a good chance that you have some degree of hearing loss caused by years of exposure to loud concerts, loud stereos, and loud headphones. That, together with the increase in noise pollution in our everyday lives, it's a problem that is getting worse.


turn down the volume to reduce hearing loss Hearing problems among baby boomers are higher than were ever reported for previous generations and the percentages are rising among the next generation. It's not surprising considering that we are the first to have been raised on rock music and other environmental noises that didn't exist before. The problem is further complicated with baby boomers because we refuse to accept that aging can effect us and too many of us are denying the signs.

Most people notice a problem when they begin having a difficulty hearing high frequency sounds. For example, the consonants s, z, t, f, and g are high frequency sounds. It may be difficult to distinguish between words that sound alike such “hill,” “fill” and “sill, This could cause a person to have a hard time carrying on a conversation. While they may be able to hear speech they may not understand clearly what is being said.

The most common causes of hearing loss are aging and exposure to noise.

For some people earwax can cause loss of hearing. This can happen at any age as a result of a gradual buildup of earwax in the ear canal which prevents the conduction of sound waves. This condition however is temporary and can be treated in a doctor's office.

Ear infections, tumors, diseases, or a ruptured eardrum can also result in a loss of hearing.


How we hear

The ear consists of three major areas: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear.

anatomy of the ear
  1. Sound waves reach the outer ear.

  2. Sound waves travel down the ear canal where they reach the eardrum.

  3. The eardrum vibrates with these sound waves which cause three tiny bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) to vibrate.

  4. They carry the vibration to the cochlea which is a fluid filled snail shaped structure in the inner ear.

  5. The cochlea is filled with thousands of tiny hairs (cilia) which are attached to nerve cells.

  6. As the liquid in the cochlea vibrates it moves the cilia which stimulate the nerve cells to send different signals to the brain via the auditory nerve.

  7. The brain distinguishes the signals and translates them into the sound we hear.

Most hearing problems are a result of damage to the cochlea. The cilia can break or bend and the nerve cells can be damaged. Once the cilia are damaged, signals can't be transmitted as well and hearing loss occurs.

Factors that can lead to loss of cilia and nerve cells are aging, loud noises, heredity and some medications. This damage is permanent and cannot be reversed.


How does hearing loss effect us?

Poor hearing can lead to misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and senseless arguments. Carrying on a conversation can get so difficult that one may prefer to be alone and thus cause isolation. A person who is alone too much can become depressed.

Poor hearing can cause others to think you are confused or mentally unstable when your answers to questions seem confused or you don't answer at all when spoken to.

Hearing problems can cause feelings of paranoia when you are constantly misunderstanding things that are said to you.

Not hearing well can be very exhausting when you are constantly straining to hear what is being said.

Serious problems can arise between spouses when one cannot hear the other properly. It can be very difficult on both parties and cause bitter friction when one person is constantly misunderstanding and the other has to repeat his/her words over and over.


Coming to grips with hearing loss

When hearing loss begins, it is only noticeable when there is a lot of background noise, like at a busy restaurant or party, or if the TV is turned on loud. A problem may not be even detected when you sit across from a person in an office or at a quiet restaurant. So before you say you know you have no hearing problems, be sure you're not fooling yourself.

  • Have your hearing tested properly by a licensed accredited audiologist.

  • Wear earplugs to minimize further damage when around loud noises such as concerts, parties and receptions, or places where loud tools are being operated.

  • Turn down the volume when listening to the stereo or using earphones. You can't reverse the loss, but you could stop any further damage.


Hearing Aids

If you think your hearing loss is severe enough to require a hearing aid, take the following steps first:

  • Go to a doctor to rule out causes that can be corrected such as earwax or infections.

  • Have your hearing checked by a reputable audiologist. If you don't know one, ask your doctor or friends for a referral.

  • Read up on the subject to better understand what your options are and to alleviate some of your concerns. Below are some excellent links to get you started.



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