Growing up, you probably began to connect hearing loss with getting old. You most likely had older people around you trying to understand conversations or utilizing hearing aids.
But much like 30 or 60 only seemed old to you up until it rapidly approached, when you discover more regarding hearing loss, you find that it has much less to do with growing old and much more to do with something else.
Most people are hesitant to admit they have hearing loss because it makes them feel old.
Hearing Loss Is an “Any Age Issue”
By the age of 12, audiologists can already detect some amount of hearing loss in 13% of instances. You’ll agree, this is not because 12-year-olds are “old”. In the past 3 decades we have seen a 33% increase in teen hearing loss.
What’s going on here?
2% of 45 – 55-year-olds and 8% of 55 – 64-year-olds currently have debilitating hearing loss.
The issue is not with getting old. It’s absolutely possible to stop, despite the fact that most people might think of it as an aging problem. And you have the power to substantially decrease the development of your hearing loss.
Age-related hearing loss, identified medically as sensorineural hearing loss, is most typically instigated by loud noise.
For ages hearing loss was assumed to be inescapable when you get older. But presently, we are more knowledgeable about how to protect your hearing and even restore it.
How Hearing Loss is Caused by Loud Noise
You need to appreciate that noise is not harmless if you wish to start to protect your hearing.
Sound is made up of waves of pressure. Traveling down into your ear these waves go past your eardrum and into the inner ear.
Within the inner ear little hairs vibrate. Which hair cells vibrate, and how quickly or frequently they vibrate, become a neurological code. This code will be translated by your brain into the sound of traffic, someone shouting for help, a waterfall, or any other sound which might be near you.
The trouble is that as noises are too loud these little hairs are injured beyond repair. The sound shakes them until they die.
Without them, you can’t hear.
Why Noise-Induced Hearing Loss is Irreversible
If you cut yourself, the wound will heal. But when you harm these tiny hair cells, they cannot heal, and they cannot grow back again. Every time you are subjected to loud noise, a few more of these cells are lost for ever.
As they die, hearing loss advances.
There are Sounds That are Common Which Will Cause Hearing Damage
Many people are surprised to learn that routine activities can be the cause of hearing loss. It’s very easy to discount:
- Going to a concert/play/movie
- Wearing earbuds/head phones
- Turning the car stereo way up
- Mowing the lawn
- Using farm equipment
- Riding a motorcycle/snowmobile
- Driving on a busy highway with the windows or top down
- Working in a manufacturing plant or other loud industry
- Being a musician
You don’t have to give up these activities. It is possible to minimize noise induced hearing damage by taking pro-active measures.
How you can Stop Hearing Loss From Making You “Feel” old
If you already suffer from hearing loss, accepting it doesn’t need to cause you to feel older. The longer you disregard it, the worse it will get, and you will wind up feeling older much sooner because of:
- Increased Fall Risk
- Social Isolation
- More frequent trips to the ER
- Strained relationships
For people with neglected hearing loss, suffering from one or more of these is considerably more likely.
Prevent Further Hearing Problems
Learning how to protect against hearing loss is the first step.
- Sound meter apps are readily available for your phone which can show you how loud things actually are.
- Harmful volumes should be avoided without proper ear protection. Above 85 dB (decibels) can cause irreversible hearing damage in 8 hours. 110 dB takes around 15 minutes to cause permanent hearing loss. 120 dB and above results in instant hearing loss. A gunshot is around 140 to 170 dB.
- You should know that you have already caused hearing damage if you have had a hard time hearing, or if your ears were ringing, after a concert. Over time it will get worse.
- Wear earplugs and/or sound-dampening earmuffs when appropriate.
- Follow work hearing protection policies.
- Limit your exposure time to loud sounds.
- Avoid standing close to loudspeakers or cranking speakers up at home.
- Purchase earbuds/headphones which have integrated volume control. These never go over 90 decibels. You would have to listen almost non-stop all the time to do irreversible damage.
- High blood pressure, not enough blood oxygen, and several medications tend to cause you to be more vulnerable at lower volumes. To be certain, never listen to headphones at over 50%. Car speakers differ.
- Use your hearing aid. Not using a hearing aid when you require them causes the brain to atrophy. It’s comparable to your leg muscles. If you stop walking, it will be much more difficult to start walking again.
Make an Appointment With a Hearing Specialist
Are you procrastinating or are in denial? Make the right decision now rather than later. You need to be aware so that you can become proactive to minimize further damage.
Talk to Your Hearing Professional Regarding Hearing Solutions
There are not any “normal cures” for hearing impairment. If you have extreme hearing loss, it’s time to get a hearing aid.
You Should way the Cost Compared to the Benefits of Buying Hearing Aids
Lots of people are either in denial about hearing loss, or alternatively, they decide to “tough it out.” They feel that hearing aids make them feel old. Or maybe they think they cost too much.
However when they realize that hearing loss will worsen faster and can cause several health and relationship complications, it’s simple to be certain that the pros well outweigh the cons.
Talk to a hearing care specialist now about getting a hearing test. And if hearing aids are needed, don’t worry about “feeling old.” Hearing aids today are much more streamlined and more advanced than you may think!