As we get older, hearing loss is normally believed to be a fact of life. Loss of hearing is experienced by lots of older Americans as is tinnitus or a ringing in the ears. But if a condition like this is so accepted, why is it that so many people won’t admit that they deal with loss of hearing?
A new study from Canada reveals that hearing loss is experienced by more than half of Canadians, but no concerns were reported at all by over 77% percent of those. Some kind of hearing loss is impacting more than 48 million Americans and untreated. It’s up for debate whether this denial is deliberate or not, but it’s still true that a substantial number of individuals allow their loss of hearing to go unchecked – which, in the future, could bring about significant problems.
Why is Loss of Hearing Not Recognized by Some people?
It’s a complex matter. Loss of hearing is a gradual process, and some people may not even recognize that they have a harder time hearing things or understanding people than they once did. Or, more commonly, they might blame it on something else – they think that everyone is mumbling, the TV volume is too low, or background noise is too high. There are, unfortunately, quite a few things that hearing loss can be blamed on, and people’s first instinct is not usually going to be to get examined or get a hearing test.
Conversely, there may be some individuals who know they’re suffering from hearing loss but refuse to accept it. Another study conducted in the United States shows that many seniors who suffer from hearing issues flat out deny it. They hide their issue however they can, either because they don’t want to admit to having a problem or because of perceived stigmas associated with hearing loss.
The trouble with both of these scenarios is that by rejecting or not realizing you have a problem hearing you could actually be negatively affecting your overall health.
There Can be Extreme Repercussions From Untreated Hearing Loss
Loss of hearing does not exclusively impact your ears – it has been connected to different conditions such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline, and it can also be a symptom of heart disease and high blood pressure.
Research has revealed that people who have hearing loss commonly have shorter life expectancy rates and their general health is not as good as other people who have managed their hearing loss using hearing aids, changes in their diet, or cognitive behavioral treatment.
It’s necessary to acknowledge the indications of hearing loss – trouble carrying on conversations, turning up the volume on the radio or TV, or a lingering ringing or humming in your ears.
How Can You Treat Hearing Loss?
You can control your hearing loss with several treatment options. Hearing aids are the form of treatment that is the most prevalent, and you won’t have the same types of issues that your grandparents or parents did because hearing aid tech 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 could affect the health of your hearing if you suffer from anemia. Since anemia iron deficiency has been demonstrated to cause hearing loss, people who suffer from tinnitus can be helped by consuming foods that are high in iron.
Having your hearing examined regularly, however, is the most significant thing you can do.
Do you suspect that might have loss of hearing? Come in and get screened.
