As we age, hearing loss is normally perceived as a fact of life. Hearing loss is experienced by many older Americans as is tinnitus or a ringing in the ears. But if a condition like this is so accepted, why do so many people deny that they suffer from hearing loss?
A new study from Canada posits that more than 50 percent of all middle aged or older Canadians cope with some type of loss of hearing, but that 77% of those people don’t report any issues. In the United States, more than 48 million people have some type of hearing loss, but many do not try to deal with it. It’s up for debate whether this denial is on purpose or not, but the fact remains that a substantial number of people allow their loss of hearing to go unchecked – which could lead to significant issues later on in life.
Why is Hearing Loss Missed by Some people?
That question is a complex one. It’s a slow process when someone loses their hearing, and trouble comprehending people and hearing things go undetected. Many times they blame everybody else around them – the person they’re speaking to is mumbling, volumes aren’t turned up loud enough, or background noise is too high. There are, unfortunately, numerous things that hearing loss can be blamed on, and having a hearing test or getting checked out, normally, is not a person’s first reaction.
Conversely, there might be some individuals who know they have hearing loss but won’t admit it. Another study conducted in the United States shows that lots of seniors who suffer from hearing issues flat out deny it. They do what they can to cover up their problem, either they recognize a stigma around hearing loss or because they don’t want to admit to having an issue.
The trouble with both of these scenarios is that by denying or not noticing you have a problem hearing you could actually be negatively influencing your overall health.
There Can be Serious Consequences From Untreated Hearing Loss
It’s not just your ears that are impacted by hearing loss – it has been linked to different ailments like depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline, and it can also be a symptom of high blood pressure and heart disease.
Research has demonstrated that people who have loss of hearing generally have shorter life expectancy rates and their general health is not as strong as other people who have managed their hearing loss using hearing aids, changes in their diet, or cognitive behavioral therapy.
It’s necessary to acknowledge the indications of hearing loss – chronic ringing or humming in the ears, trouble carrying on conversations, having to turn up the volume of your TV or radio.
What Can You Do to Address Hearing Loss?
There are several treatments you can do to get your hearing loss under control. Hearing aids are the most prevalent type of treatment, and you won’t have the same types of problems that your parents or grandparents did because hearing aid tech has advanced considerably. Hearing aids can now filter out background noise and wind, while also wirelessly connecting to devices like your radio, TV, or tablet.
A dietary changes could affect the health of your hearing if you have anemia. Eating more foods that are rich in iron has been discovered to help people fight tinnitus and hearing loss since iron deficiency anemia has been demonstrated to lead to loss of hearing.
Having your hearing tested regularly, however, is the most important thing you can do.
Are you worried you could have hearing problems? Visit us and get checked.