As we age, hearing loss is generally regarded as an inescapable fact of life. Many older Americans suffer from some kind of hearing loss or tinnitus, which is a continuous ringing in the ears. But for such an accepted ailment many people still won’t admit they suffer from loss of hearing.
A new study from Canada posits that over 50 percent of all middle aged or older Canadians cope with some form of hearing loss, but no problems were reported at all by over 77% percent of those. Some kind of hearing loss is experienced by more than 48 million Americans and goes un-addressed. If this denial is on purpose or not is debatable, but it’s still true that a considerable number of individuals let their hearing loss go unchecked – which could cause considerable issues down the road.
Why do Some People Not Know They Suffer From Hearing Loss?
That question is a tricky one. Loss of hearing is a slow process, and some people may not even notice that they are having a more difficult time hearing things or comprehending people than they once did. Or, more commonly, they could blame it on something else – the person they’re speaking to 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 having a hearing test or getting checked out, normally, is not a person’s first reaction.
It also happens that some people just won’t acknowledge that they have hearing loss. Another study conducted in the United States shows that many seniors who suffer from hearing issues flat out deny it. They hide their issue in any way they can, either they perceive a stigma around hearing loss or because they don’t like to admit to having a problem.
The concern is, you may be negatively impacting your overall health by neglecting your hearing loss.
There Can be Extreme Consequences From Neglected Hearing Loss
It’s not just your ears that are affected by hearing loss – it has been connected 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 individuals who have addressed 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 – difficulty carrying on conversations, cranking up the volume on the radio or TV, or a persistent ringing or humming in your ears.
What Can You Do to Address Hearing Loss?
There are several treatment methods you can do to get your hearing loss under control. Hearing aids are the most common form of treatment, and hearing aid tech has developed by leaps and bounds over the last several years so it’s unlikely you’ll have the same problems your grandparents or parents did. Hearing aids can now filter out background noise and wind, while also connecting wirelessly to devices like your TV, tablet, or radio.
A changes in the foods you eat could affect the health of your hearing if you have anemia. Since anemia iron deficiency has been revealed to cause loss of hearing, people who have tinnitus can be helped by eating foods that are rich in iron.
The most essential thing you can do, though, is to have your hearing tested on a regular basis.
Do you think that might have hearing loss? Visit us and get screened.