Welcome to Low Country Audiology

An estimated 28 million Americans have hearing loss. According to the National Institutes of Health, one third of 65-75 year-old Americans have hearing loss, and one half of those 75 and older do. This makes hearing loss the third most frequently reported chronic medical condition in America.

For adults, the tiny hair cells of the inner ear in the cochlea are the structures frequently damaged. Cochlear hair cells can be damaged by loud noise or chemicals toxic to the ear including some chemotherapy treatments. Some sensorineural hearing loss is congenital (present from birth), but for most people a sensorineural hearing loss occurs gradually and is permanent. When cochlear hair cells become damaged, their ability to transform sound vibrations into electrical signals is diminished.

For those with hearing loss and their family members, the symptoms are frustrating and can cause long-term issues:

• Following conversation is more difficult, especially in meetings and restaurants.
• Understanding on the phone and watching television may be challenging.
• Television volume may need to be increased.
• Family communication and dynamics can become strained.
• To avoid misunderstandings, some people withdraw from social settings more.

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