Loss of hearing – it’s generally considered a fact of life as we get older. Many older Americans have some form of hearing loss or tinnitus, which is a chronic ringing in the ears. But for such an accepted condition many people still won’t admit they suffer from hearing loss.
A new study from Canada reveals that loss of hearing is experienced by more than half of Canadians, but that 77% of those people don’t document any concerns. In the US, over 48 million individuals have some type of hearing loss, but many do not attempt to address it. Whether this denial is deliberate or not is debatable, but the fact remains that a significant number of individuals let their hearing loss go unchecked – which could result in significant issues down the road.
Why do Some People Not Know They Have Hearing Loss?
It’s a challenging matter. Loss of hearing is a gradual process, and some people might not recognize that they are having a more difficult time hearing things or understanding people than they once did. Or, more commonly, they may blame it on something else – they believe that everyone is mumbling, the TV volume is too low, or there’s too much background noise. hearing loss can be blamed, unfortunately, on quite a few things, and getting a hearing test or getting checked out, usually, is not a person’s first reaction.
It also happens that some people just won’t admit that they have hearing loss. Another study conducted in the United States shows that many seniors who have hearing problems flat out deny it. They mask their problem in any way they can, either because they don’t want to acknowledge an issue or because of perceived stigmas surrounding hearing loss.
The difficulty is, you may be negatively impacting your general health by neglecting your hearing loss.
Untreated Hearing Loss Can Have a Catastrophic Impact
Loss of hearing does not only affect your ears – high blood pressure and heart disease have also been associated with hearing loss as well as anxiety, depression, and mental decline.
Research has shown that people who have hearing loss normally have shorter life expectancy rates and their general health is not as good as others who have dealt with their hearing loss with hearing aids, dietary changes, or cognitive behavioral therapy.
It’s important to acknowledge the indications of hearing loss – chronic humming or ringing in the ears, trouble carrying on conversations, having to crank up the volume of your TV or radio.
How Can You Treat Hearing Loss?
You can control your hearing loss with several treatment options. Hearing aids are the most prevalent type of treatment, and hearing aid tech has developed by leaps and bounds over the past several years so it’s unlikely you’ll have the same issues your parents or grandparents did. Hearing aids can now filter out background noise and wind, while also wirelessly connecting to devices like your TV, tablet, or radio.
A changing your diet could impact your hearing health if you have anemia. Since anemia iron deficiency has been revealed to cause hearing loss, people who have tinnitus can be helped by eating foods that are rich in iron.
Getting your hearing checked routinely, however, is the most significant thing you can do.
Do you suspect that you’re suffering from loss of hearing? Schedule an appointment to have a hearing test.