CHHA-Calgary promotes self-help, advocacy, information and visibility for Calgarians with hearing loss.

Visitors are always welcome.

Common Questions

CHHA-Calgary is the Calgary Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA). The CHHA, formed in 1982, is a non-profit, self-help consumer organization, which is the national voice of all Canadians who are hard of hearing. Like its parent organization, CHHA-Calgary is formed by, and for, Calgarians who are hard of hearing, to promote self-help and public awareness of hearing loss.


How common is hearing loss?

The results of a survey carried out by the Canadian Hearing Society in 2002 reported that 23% of Canadians have some degree of hearing loss, ranging from mild to profound deafness. The average age of someone with hearing loss is 51 years. For those aged 65 and over, the percentage rises to 50%. Hearing loss is considered the fastest growing disability in North America.

What causes hearing loss?

There are many causes of hearing loss. Currently, excessive noise exposure is considered the number one cause of hearing loss, followed by the effects of aging (presbycusis). Other causes include birth defects, high fevers, ear infections, disease, tumors, head injuries, genetic factors, and toxic drugs.

To see how the ear works and why hearing loss is not a simple issue, the following video clip will provide further information. Press the play button (on the far left on the bar underneath the video) to start the clip. The video comes with sound, so please turn on your computer speakers. To view the video full screen (a more impressive view), click on the icon second from the right with the four arrows pointing outwards.

The video segment was taken from the "Sound Ideas" video produced by the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association. Visit their web site to learn more or to purchase the complete video.

Can too much ear wax cause hearing loss?

A build-up of wax can cause a slight decline in hearing. If this is the case, the wax can be softened with a few drops of mineral oil and then must be removed by your doctor. However, the production of earwax is a normal function and is nature's way of cleaning and lubricating the ear. Some people's ears make more or harder wax and this can be checked and removed, if necessary, during regular medical check-ups. Do not attempt to remove wax with a cotton swab or any sharp instrument.

How do I know if I have a hearing loss?

Only a professional hearing test will tell you for sure, but there are some classic symptoms of hearing loss:

  • You have difficulty conversing in a noisy environment. Social situations become difficult.
  • You hear people talking, but do not understand their words. Maybe you complain that speakers are mumbling or not speaking clearly. You frequently ask people to repeat themselves.
  • You have trouble understanding children's and sometimes women's voices.
  • You turn the TV or radio up loud.
  • You have difficulty understanding from a distance or from another room.
  • You have problems understanding speakers if you are not face to face. You find yourself nodding in comprehension, but aren't really sure of what was said.
  • You experience pain, dizziness, ringing or buzzing in the ears.

Do hearing aids help?

Yes, hearing aids do help most people with hearing loss (some losses are too complicated or too profound to be helped though). A hearing aid does not restore normal hearing, but modern technology is amazing. Hearing aids are more comfortable to wear and easier to listen with than they used to be. They can usually be fitted to specifically match one's hearing loss profile. But the hearing aid wearer must be willing to put effort into adapting to his or her hearing instrument and into working closely with a hearing aid provider.

For excellent resources and information about the numerous types of hearing aids available visit http://www.healthyhearing.com/answers/hearing_aids.asp

Are there different types of hearing loss?

There are two main types of hearing loss, and some people may have a combination:

  • Conductive (Mechanical): The outer or middle ear is unable to conduct sound as well as it should. Conductive hearing loss can often be corrected medically or surgically, or helped by hearing aids and other technology. Rarely is the loss severe or profound.
  • Sensorineural (Nerve damage): This most common type of hearing loss has many causes and refers to damage or destruction of mechanisms in the inner ear or auditory nerve. Sensorineural hearing loss can cause decreased capacity in one or both of two distinct abilities: sensitivity to sounds, which is the ability to detect soft sounds; and discrimination, the ability to distinguish one sound from another and to understand speech.

People with both discrimination and sensitivity problems find that even if speech is made loud enough for them to hear, they may still misunderstand what's being said. This is why background noise interferes with comprehension for a person who is hard of hearing, and why shouting at a person with hearing loss is usually painful rather than helpful. Hearing loss of this nature often develops so gradually that the person may not realize that something is amiss, becoming the last person to realize that his or her hearing is diminishing.

How do I know my percent of hearing loss?

Hearing loss should not be described in terms of percentage of loss. This is not an accurate way to describe your hearing loss because it is unlikely that you have lost hearing equally in all frequencies and also because of the kind of measurement that a decibel, which measures loudness, is. Instead hearing loss is described as mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe, or profound, depending upon the degree of loss. For example, one may say that he or she has a "moderately severe high frequency hearing loss."

Why do my ears ring (or buzz, or chirp)?

Tinnitus, which refers to sounds that are heard in the head or ears, may accompany sensorineural hearing loss. Tinnitus is a sensation of sound not produced by any external source. It may sound like ringing, buzzing, hissing, roaring, crickets, or a combination of several sounds. Tinnitus is not a disease - it's a symptom that often indicates damage in the inner ear. Noise and aging are the two most common causes of such damage, but tinnitus can be caused by other medical conditions and should be checked by an Otalaryngologist, or Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist, to see if it can be treated medically. Other treatments, varying in degrees of success, include masking the tinnitus with noise generators, counseling, biofeedback, relaxation techniques, prescription medicines, herbal remedies, and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (auditory habituation therapy).

More information on Tinnitus can be found on the American Tinnitus Association web site.

What is a cochlear implant?

When hearing aids are no longer providing assistance, the cochlear implant may be an option. A cochlear implant is a complex electronic device that can partially compensate for the non-functioning inner ear. The implant involves screening, surgery to insert the device, wearing some ear-level "equipment", as well as training and programming by an auditory therapist. Read more about cochlear implants.

I am a student/young adult- where do I start once I realize I need help with my hearing loss?

Do you feel like you are always two steps behind in the conversation, or that you miss out on what your friends are saying? You are not alone - read Amber's story. Once you realize you need help with hearing loss, there are many tips and informational resources to help you manage your hearing loss. Take a look at our suggestions for young people or principles of managing a hearing loss page for more tips.

 

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