Hearing loss – it’s generally thought to be a fact of life as we age. Hearing loss is experienced by lots of older Americans as is tinnitus or a ringing in the ears. But for such an accepted affliction many people still deny they deal with hearing loss.
A new study from Canada posits that more than 50 percent of all middle aged or older Canadians suffer from some type of loss of hearing, but that 77% of those individuals do not report any concerns. In the US, more than 48 million individuals have some type of hearing loss, but many do not attempt to deal with it. Whether this denial is on purpose or not is debatable, but in either case, hearing loss is neglected by a considerable number of people – which could result in substantial problems down the road.
Why do Some Individuals Not Recognize They Have Hearing Loss?
That question is a complex one. It’s a gradual process when someone loses their hearing, and some people may not even notice that they are having a more difficult time hearing things or understanding people than they once did. Or, more frequently, they may blame it on something else – the person they’re talking to is mumbling, volumes aren’t turned up loud enough, or there’s too much background interference. There are, unfortunately, numerous things that hearing loss can be blamed on, and having a hearing exam or getting checked out, normally, is not a person’s first reaction.
It also happens that some people just won’t admit that they suffer from hearing loss. Another study conducted in the United States shows that lots of seniors who have hearing issues flat out deny it. They do everything they can to mask their problem, either because they don’t want to acknowledge an issue or because of perceived stigmas associated with hearing loss.
The problem is, you might be negatively affecting your general health by neglecting your hearing loss.
There Can be Extreme Consequences From Neglected Hearing Loss
It’s not just your ears that are impacted by hearing loss – it has been connected to different conditions like anxiety, cognitive decline, and depression, and it can also be a symptom of high blood pressure and heart disease.
Research has shown that individuals who have treated their hearing loss using cognitive therapy, diet changes and hearing aids have better general health and longer life spans.
It’s crucial to recognize the signs of hearing loss – continual humming or ringing in the ears, difficulty having conversations, having to turn up the volume of your radio or TV.
How do You Manage Hearing Loss?
There are a number of treatments you can undertake to get your hearing loss under control. Hearing aids are the most common form of treatment, and you won’t have the same kinds of problems that your parents or grandparents did because hearing aid technology has advanced appreciably. Hearing aids now have the ability to filter out background noise and wind, while also connecting wirelessly to devices like your radio, TV, or tablet.
A dietary changes might also have a healthy effect on the health of your hearing if you have anemia. Since anemia iron deficiency has been shown to cause loss of hearing, people who have tinnitus can be helped by consuming foods that are high in iron.
The foremost thing you can do, though, is to get your hearing assessed routinely.
Are you concerned you could have hearing problems? Come in and get checked.