TORRINGTON – October marks National Audiology Awareness Month and National Protect Your Hearing Month, prompting local hearing experts to emphasize the critical connection between hearing health and overall well-being.
Dr. Brant Christensen, founder of Brant Audiology & Tinnitus, operates clinics across Cheyenne, Casper and Torrington, serving veterans, children and adults throughout Wyoming. His practice was formed in 2012 through a partnership between Dr. Christensen and Dr. Ruby Zubrod from Audiology and Tinnitus Center, expanding treatment options for patients across southeast Wyoming.
The American Academy of Audiology established National Audiology Awareness Month in 2008 to educate the public about hearing loss risks and encourage preventative measures. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 37.5 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss.
The hidden impact of hearing loss
Research reveals untreated hearing loss affects more than just the ability to hear. Studies show people with hearing loss may withdraw from social situations and become more isolated over time, while the brain areas helping people understand sounds must work harder, potentially leading to changes affecting memory and thinking abilities.
Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers note ears pick up subtle cues helping with balance, and hearing loss mutes these important signals while making the brain work harder to process sound. This additional cognitive demand can interfere with mental processing needed for everyday tasks like walking safely.
A Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health study found older adults with greater hearing loss severity were more likely to have dementia, though the likelihood was lower among hearing aid users compared to non-users. Hearing loss can make the brain work harder, forcing it to strain to hear and fill in gaps, which comes at the expense of other thinking and memory systems.
Studies have shown people who use hearing aids to manage their hearing loss are less likely to develop dementia, with hearing aid use also associated with fewer memory problems and thinking problems independent of dementia.
Wyoming’s unique hearing risks
Lengthy or repeated exposure to noise above 85 decibels can damage hearing, with noise from fireworks reaching up to 155 decibels. Wyoming residents face particular hearing risks from activities common in the state.
Recreational activities putting people at risk for noise-induced hearing loss include target shooting and hunting, snowmobile riding, listening to MP3 players at high volume and attending loud concerts. Noise over 140 decibels can permanently damage hearing, and almost all firearms are in or above this range.
As people lose hearing due to noise exposure, high-pitched sounds like “s,” “th” and “f” tend to be the first affected, with people who lose ability to hear these sounds complaining others are mumbling or sounds feel muffled. Many may also develop tinnitus or ringing in the ears.
Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by a one-time exposure to an intense impulse sound like an explosion or by continuous exposure to loud sounds over an extended period. Sometimes exposure to impulse or continuous loud noise causes a temporary hearing loss disappearing 16 to 48 hours later, though recent research suggests there may be residual long-term damage to hearing even when the loss seems to disappear.
Protection and prevention
Noise-induced hearing loss is the only type of hearing loss completely preventable. Electronic hearing protection options can make softer sounds louder but shut off when there is a loud noise like gunfire, allowing hunters to talk and hear animals without removing the devices.
Custom-molded hearing protection can provide comfortable fits and good sound quality for extended wear. Custom-molded earplugs with microphones allow users to hear normally, but when a gun is fired the microphone shuts off and the earplugs provide maximum sound protection.
Early detection and treatment
Hearing aid users wait an average of 10 years before seeking help for hearing loss, but during that time communication with loved ones becomes more difficult and isolation and health risks increase. Regular hearing tests from a quality audiologist are the most efficient way to catch concerns before they become severe, with early diagnosis leading to early intervention.
Brant Audiology & Tinnitus audiologists hold Doctorate of Audiology degrees, requiring four years of undergraduate education followed by four years of specialized study in hearing and balance disorders. The practice provides comprehensive hearing care services including hearing tests, cochlear implants, ear wax removal and advanced hearing solutions, with audiologists fitting and programming hearing aids and giving all follow-up care needed to be successful with devices.
Warning signs to watch
Common early signs of hearing loss include difficulty following conversations in noisy environments, frequently asking people to repeat themselves, turning up television or radio volume and experiencing ringing in the ears. Around 37 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss already, with half of those individuals younger than age 65.
Dr. Christensen and his audiology team are available for interviews throughout October to discuss early warning signs of hearing loss, protective strategies for Wyoming’s outdoor lifestyle and local treatment resources for residents across the state.
