How hearing loss affects speech?

Hearing loss can have a significant impact on an individual’s ability to communicate effectively. From being unable to hear subtle nuances in speech, struggling to distinguish different sounds, and difficulty understanding what others are saying in noisy environments – hearing loss affects speech in various ways.

Here we take a closer look at how exactly hearing loss impacts the way you speak (and listen!), break down some commonly used terms associated with this condition, and offer helpful tips for those affected by hearing impairment.

The Anatomy of Hearing

Before we dive headfirst into discussing the effects of hearing loss on speech let’s first understand how sound is processed inside our ears. Our ears consist of three parts:
1. Outer ear
2. Middle ear
3. Inner ear

Sound starts its journey by entering through the outer ear before it reaches the eardrum which vibrates when hit by sound waves.

Next up is our middle ear where tiny bones amplify these vibrations before they travel onto our inner ear where hair cells convert them into electrical signals that our brain interprets as sound (I know right?! Amazing!).

Check out this nifty diagram below:

Commonly Used Terminology

When someone says they suffer from ‘hearing problems’, there are usually several underlying conditions responsible for causing such issues(Just like me after last friday night). In no particular order here are some acronyms/terms worth knowing about:
– PTA (Pure Tone Audiometry) – A test that identifies any degree or type of hearing loss.
– Tinnitus – Ringing or buzzing noise heard persistently or intermittently without any external source.
– Cochlear Implants – Electronic devices surgically implanted under your skin behind your ears helping transmit sound signals directly to the brain. (Talk about high tech living!)
– Decibel (dB) – Definition of sound intensity and loudness, based on logarithmic scale.

Now we have covered the basics let’s find out more about how hearing loss can impact speech clarity.

How Hearing Loss Affects Speech

As mentioned earlier, hearing loss affects communication in a myriad of ways(Just my luck right before the final presentations). Let’s delve into some common challenges people with this condition face:

Difficulty understanding speech

The most prominent effect is having difficulty hearing what others are saying especially in situations where there is background noise or when several individuals speak simultaneously like during meetings, parties and events (So glad I’m not missing juicy gossip![sarcasm]).

This often leads to problems communicating effectively which can be frustrating for both parties involved. If ignored it may lead to social isolation(Would you believe they call me a lone wolf?![Sigh…hurrumph!]) depression or even anxiety/panic attacks.

Distorted sounds

For those whose condition goes unaddressed for far too long (Really? Go get checked already [Eye roll]), it becomes harder to differentiate between different sounds such as ‘f’ vs ‘s’; ’th’ vs ‘sh’; ‘p’ vs ‘t’. This makes conversations more challenging because having distorted sounds could affect comprehension and leave an individual struggling just to make out words let alone understand their meaning. Spoiler alert: It sucks!

Monotones

People trying to mask their hearing loss sometimes end up using monotone speaks(i.e talking without any rises nor falls in rhythm/tone). Not only does doing so zap every bit of enthusiasm from your voice but also leads script sounding boring as well(Imagine Siri reading all news anchors scripts these days?! [yawn])

Let those emotions come through reader… Let us see authenticity!(Hahahaha[LOL])

Muffled speech

Hearing aids can improve speech clarity for those with hearing loss, but if not properly maintained or fitted could distort sounds and contribute to what is commonly referred as muffled speak. This causes distress since the volume levels may be set too loud making some noises louder than others which in turn affects discerning words.

It is important to ensure your device fits snugly without any discomfort around the ear canal(Yup! it’s like wearing high heels that are a touch small when our devices hurts, so does my confidence).

Additionally, proper maintenance requires frequent cleaning(fluffy coatings anyone? [eewww])and replacements of worn out parts(internal flames engulfs]). Regular visits to an audiologist for inspections will go a long way ensuring longevity of your expensive investments(Halleluja!)

Can Speech Therapy Help?

Speech therapy plays an integral role in helping people address hearing loss. A licensed speech therapist offers tailored assistance depending on one’s level of impairment.

Some techniques used include Articulation drills (help improving pronunciation), Mnemonic Devices(assistance with word recall and retention) , Sequencing drills(warm up repetition exercises) among others.

There also exist Auditory Verbal Therapy, aimed at facilitating communication through auditory reception based exercises; however this approach might prove unsuitable for those affected by severe impairments(professional advice paramount!)

At times pronunciations resulting from previous regional dialect do occasionally get conflated(cam‘P’compared to Co’mmand’). Ultimately offering spoken knowledge accompanied by constant practice makes perfect(literally).

Conclusion

Hearing loss has profound impacts upon verbal expression(Indeed it does). From creating barriers in peer-to-peer communication right down impacting self-esteem/self-worth due underlying social anxiety caused by missed keywords during conversations affecting productivity/job ability-integration into society becomes overly difficult . However consistent use and following specific guidelines dedicated to your specific hearing loss condition does alleviate same.

With early detection and medical attention, it is possible to enjoy speaking freely while understanding others without struggling or worrying about missing crucial information(You deserve to be part of the conversation too). Using the techniques mentioned above(plus way more), speech therapy helps treat symptoms thus reversing hearing damage, allowing individuals with this condition experience life in full sound (Ready…Set…He-arin go!!! [Hahaha]).

We hope that through educating everyone on how hearing impairment affects speech, we shine a light on what could often become neglected, yet requires tender care-I mean who wouldn’t want better conversational experiences?! Look after those ears folks!!