What causes hearing loss?

Close your eyes and concentrate. Listen to the sounds around you. A fan, birds chirping, cars passing down the street.

What you are experiencing are the vibrations of sound. The human ear is normally remarkably sensitive to a wide range of sounds.

Sound vibrations are processed by the ears, the nervous system and the brain, becoming what we perceive as sound signals.

Our ears are delicate instruments, and our ability to hear can diminish for a number of reasons. The majority of people develop hearing loss as they get older. Over time, part of the ear’s delicate mechanism may break down or simply wear out.

Excessive noise exposure is the number one reason for hearing loss. Many work settings and recreational activities are quite noisy and can be damaging to your inner ear. It is wise to avoid high volume levels on your car stereo and MP3 player and to wear earplugs at concerts and in other noisy places.

No matter what the cause, the real problem is not the hearing loss itself, but that most people don’t knpw that they can do something about it.

Do something about it! May is Better Hearing Month, with a goal on raising awareness on the causes of and treatments for hearing loss. In conjunction with this national public awareness effort, Hearing Healthcare of Virginia is offering complimentary hearing screenings at its six locations in the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia – Charlottesville, Covington, Culpeper, Fishersville, Harrisonburg, and Lexington.

Hearing Healthcare is also offering a series of Lunch and Learn events in the month of May. Expert audiologists will be on hand to answer questions and provide a complimentary hearing screening at the events.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (888) 512-1164 or visitwww.hearvirginia.com.