As we get older, hearing loss is commonly thought to be an inescapable fact of life. Lots of older Americans have some type of hearing loss or tinnitus, which is a continuous ringing in the ears. But for such an accepted problem many people still deny they have hearing loss.
A new study from Canada reports that loss of hearing is experienced by more than half of Canadians, but no concerns were reported at all by more than 77% percent of those. In the US, more than 48 million individuals have some type of hearing loss, but many do not attempt to address it. It’s debatable whether this denial is deliberate or not, but either way, hearing loss is neglected by a substantial number of people – which could result in substantial issues later on in life.
Why is Loss of Hearing Missed by Some people?
It’s a complex matter. Hearing loss is a gradual process, and some people might not recognize that they are having a harder time hearing things or comprehending people than they used to. Or, more frequently, they might blame it on something else – the person they’re talking to is mumbling, the TV volume is too low, or background noise is too high. hearing loss can be blamed, unfortunately, on quite a few things, and having a hearing exam or getting checked out, usually, is not a person’s first reaction.
Conversely, there may be some people who know they’re suffering from hearing loss but refuse to accept it. Another study conducted in the United States shows that lots of seniors simply refuse to admit that they are suffering from a hearing problem. They mask their issue however they can, either because they don’t want to admit to having a problem or because of perceived stigmas attached to hearing loss.
The concern is, you may be negatively impacting your overall health by neglecting your hearing loss.
Untreated Hearing Loss Can Have a Devastating Impact
Loss of hearing does not just affect your ears – heart disease and high blood pressure have also been associated with hearing loss along with anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline.
Research has revealed that people who have addressed their loss of hearing with cognitive therapy, changes of diet and hearing aids have better general health and longer life expectancy.
It’s necessary to identify the indications of hearing loss – trouble having conversations, cranking up the volume on the radio or TV, or a chronic humming or ringing in your ears.
What Can be Done to Manage Hearing Loss?
There are a number of treatment methods you can undertake to get your loss of hearing under control. Hearing aids are the most prevalent type of treatment, and you won’t experience the same types of issues that your grandparents or parents did because hearing aid technology has advanced appreciably. Contemporary hearing aids have Bluetooth connectivity so they can connect wirelessly to your smartphone or TV and they are capable of filtering out wind and background noise.
A changes in your diet might also have a positive impact on your hearing health if you suffer from anemia. Consuming more foods that are high in iron has been shown to help people deal with tinnitus and loss of hearing since iron deficiency anemia has been shown to lead to loss of hearing.
Having your hearing examined on a regular basis, however, is the most important thing you can do.
Are you worried you might have hearing troubles? Come in and get tested.