

Just like our eyes, ears play an important role in our daily lives. To hear family talk about their day, share a joke with a friend, listen to the crunch of the sand or the sound of a summer breeze – these are the sounds that enrich our lives. But hearing loss can sneak up on you, reducing your enjoyment of these precious moments. Hearing loss can be triggered by loud noises, infections and it can even be hereditary. Although hearing loss is gradual in most cases, it can occur suddenly. Fortunately, in most cases hearing loss can be improved, or even fully corrected, using a hearing aid. Find out how.

First signs

You are not alone.

In New Zealand, approximately 1 in 6 people have a hearing loss of some degree. Hearing loss rarely occurs all of a sudden. It usually develops gradually, as we get older. Over a third of New Zealanders over 65 years of age experience hearing impairment. In the onset of gradual hearing loss there are few disadvantages in everyday life as our brains can compensate with a slight loss. 

A man staring off into the distance
However there comes a certain point where hearing loss can no longer be readily compensated for. Often it takes someone who cares, like a family member or friend, to help someone with hearing loss understand the sounds they're missing. In the case of gradual hearing loss, these changes are almost unnoticeable.

At Triton Hearing, we know acknowledging hearing loss isn't easy. There are many people who are aware of having a hearing loss but won't tackle it in the early stages. They put off a hearing test with an audiologist or ENT doctor. 

The sooner you take action about hearing loss, the sooner you can enjoy life now and into the future. Take the first steps to better hearing today.
Enjoying the sounds your love can improve your quality of life and emotional well-being. Researchers have found that after about seven years with untreated hearing loss, our brains simply lose the ability to hear certain sounds. Clinical trials have shown that people who wear hearing aids have significant improvements in social function, communication, and state of mind compared to people with hearing loss who did not wear hearing aids.
Do you hear low background noise excessively loudly?
Do you have the TV up very loud?
Do people around you tell you that your TV or radio is too loud? It might mean that you are being affected by the onset of hearing loss.
Do you find conversations stressful?
Do you have to concentrate very hard during conversations with one person or multiple people? Do you quickly start to feel tired or stressed? Do you worry that making mistakes makes everything worse? This is a key indication of the onset of hearing loss.

What happens in the event of hearing loss?

The ear is a complex organ and the cause of hearing loss can be found within various points: the outer ear, the middle ear, the inner ear or even the auditory nerve. Hearing loss is not always age-related. It can also be triggered by loud noises, infections, poisoning or injuries, or may be hereditary.

Many people that are affected are unaware that untreated hearing loss sooner or later has an impact on the mind or on quality of life. People with untreated hearing loss often complain of chronic fatigue. For them, conversations are so stressful that they would rather avoid social contact, and they increasingly withdraw. Studies show that the likelihood of older people with hearing loss starting to develop dementia is higher than among those with normal hearing.

What can be done about hearing loss?

Whether or not a hearing aid can be used to compensate for or reduce hearing loss depends on the cause. In most cases, this is possible. When amplifying and modulating background noise, the hearing aid takes into account how the auditory response area in our heads processes sounds and voices. And now with modern technology it makes hearing easier and more comfortable again.
Today's hearing technology separates voices from background noise, making it easier for someone with hearing loss to understand and stay focused on a conversation. In addition, the hearing loss is compensated for so that both ears can work together again optimally, which improves precise directional hearing. This works by the hearing aids on both ears communicating with one another.

How music can help




Hearing loss in numbers



Reasons behind increased hearing loss

Modern civilization and the our lifestyles are directly linked as to why more and more people worldwide are being affected by hearing loss. The most important factors are:
Urban lifestyles
Insufficient ear protection

Do hearing aids help with all types of hearing loss?

  • conductive hearing loss,
  • sound perception hearing loss,
  • and sensorineural hearing loss.




Do hearing aids help even with mild hearing loss?

Treatment with a hearing aid may also be advisable if, despite not yet having reached the above-mentioned degree of hearing loss, the person does experience some psychological strain. Therefore, it’s not just the audiogram measurement that is the deciding factor; an individual’s personal experiences are just as important.

At Triton Hearing you can trial a the hearing aid  for free to and see how it might work for you. Click here to find out how easy it is to get used to a hearing aid.
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Other topics

What is sudden hearing loss?
How can I have my hearing tested?