Minor hearing loss?

I have recently realized that I may have minor hearing loss. I find it hard to understand others in a noisy environment, and I do hear a faint ringing in my ears when I'm in a quiet area. I'm planning on getting a proper hearing test, but what I want to know is, do people with mild hearing loss usually use hearing aids. Also, does such hearing loss cause problems within a persons lifetime ( job opportunities and such important parts of someone and their life)?

To answer your question - Yes! People with mild degrees of hearing loss do use hearing aids/devices. From the brief history you give it sounds like you may have a high frequency hearing loss in which you will find that you hear things, but have difficulty understanding speech in certain situations. Usually female voices, children's voices are difficult to catch every word they say. You will get bits and pieces. This will be evident for all voices when you are in background noise situations - the more noise, the less you catch the conversation successfully.

Your first step is to have a complete audiological evaluation with an audiologist. Once you have a clear idea of the nature and degree of your hearing loss then you will be presented with your options. Most high frequency and other mild hearing losses are being fit VERY VERY successfully with "open fit" devices. This is a very small device that sits on top and back of the ear with only a very thin wire with a speaker in the ear canal. They are very comfortable to use, very inconspicuous and depending on the technology that you opt to use are extremely beneficial in the more challenging background noise situations. Check out Oticon Delta 8000 (www.oticonusa.com) or the Oticon Epoq XW (if you would like to utilize the state of the art technology which includes BlueTooth Streaming to your BlueTooth cell phones!!)

To answer your second question about problems caused in your lifetime. Your particular problem can be helped, if you don't choose to use hearing aids it is a quality of life issue. If you choose to improve your quality of communication then you should absolutely pursue this NOW. Depending on what employment situation you are in it may affect your performance and, therefore, future opportunities for advancement. For example, if you rely heavily upon your communication abilities to sell and work with clients you may be adversely affected on the job by your hearing loss. If you are married and you are having difficulties communicating it does affect both of you - not just the hearing impaired person.

I would say, go for the test first. Find out your options and go from there.

Good luck

This answer is just treating symptoms and not the ROOT CAUSE of the problem. Following his advice will allow you to spend money till you die with the problem. good luck to you Report It

Sounds like you have tinnitus along with the hearing loss.

People with minor hearing loss do not usually wear hearing aids unless the ringing in your ears is very bothersome; or you find it increasingly difficult to hear others.

Hearing loss should not affect your life in any negative way.
First, there are federal laws against job discrimination; there are plenty of people who date & marry people with hearing loss.

They have very small hearing aids today.

Google: mayo clinic>>diseases>>tinnitus
>>hearing loss

Good luck to you