signs and effects of hearing loss hearing loss is often associated with trouble hearing and understanding themselves frequently asking others to speak more loudly and undiagnosed and untreated hearing loss can adversely affect the loss has been shown to affect cognitive performance and impair balance leading to social isolation “early diagnosis and treatments keep the auditory processing centers of the brain active and keep these capabilities from deteriorating," says new jersey- based audiologist eric branda baseline hearing tests test determines your hearing capabilities at various pitches essential to find any abnormalities sooner to simplify and facil- itate appropriate treat- speech-language- hearing association recommends adults be examined every and every three years thereafter.-sn equipment harmful noise from equipment cleaners and drilling tools can contrib- ute to hearing loss intense noise in permanent hearing loss or tinnitus protection while there is no cure for nihl hearing protection devices block noise up to a specific frequency and assist says hearing protection shields the cochlea against loud sounds reaching the eardrum protections vary from earplugs to larger items that cover the ear and come noise reduction “spongy or foam earplugs are the earplugs made or choose headphones depending on the work environment hobby or situation," says huch staats recommends following the occupational safety and health administration standards for noise and using hearing protection at all times when sitting close to speakers or using power tools other factors some medications and ototoxic can also contribute to hearing loss ototoxic drugs include certain anti- based medications and diuretics to smoking as a significant contributor chemicals found in cigarettes suja natarajan is a writer based in ohio
