Everyone wants to stay young for as long as they can. From gym memberships to Botox to wrinkle cream to special diets, we spend a great number of hours every day doing what we can to slow down the aging process. And yet, even with all that effort (and all that time), the one thing that could actually work, we often avoid: wearing ear protection.
The majority of people most likely think of hearing loss as inevitable as we get older. But it’s not that simple. You can keep your hearing in good condition and help avoid damage by safeguarding and taking care of your ears. And excellent hearing can have considerable anti-aging effects as the years go on.
Hearing And Aging
When we discuss “aging” we don’t usually mean the actual passing of time. Instead, “aging” generally refers to the presentation of certain physical, mental, or emotional attributes that we associate with aging. Joint pain is a perfect example of this. You may relate sore knees, for example, with “growing old”. But lifestyle has as much to do with this as age does.
The same will also apply to many types of hearing loss. As you get older, damage builds up. The accumulation of damage, in most instances, is the real cause of hearing deterioration. And that’s when the problems can begin to snowball. Neglected hearing loss has been linked to several other indications of aging:
- Occasionally, issues such as insomnia and memory loss, can be triggered by the cognitive strain of trying to hear. And, in an especially intense way, that can make you feel like you are getting old.
- Self isolation from family and friends can be the outcome of neglected hearing loss.
- Anxiety and depression have been shown to have a significant connection to hearing loss.
- When hearing impairments are unnoticed and untreated they can sometimes accelerate the onset of other mental health issues, including dementia.
What to do About Age Related Hearing Loss
You’re actually emphasizing damage prevention when you battle the “signs of aging” in your ears. And thankfully, there are a few ways to accomplish that. For example, you can:
- Try to avoid loud noises as much as possible. If you have to expose yourself to loud noise, use hearing protection. So make certain you use earplugs when you go see your favorite band.
- Become more aware. You can still suffer damage to your hearing even if sounds aren’t painfully loud. Moderate noise for longer periods of time can cause damage to your ears, too.
- Wear ear protection to work if your job exposes you to loud noise. With modern quality ear muffs, loud noises are eliminated while you can still hear people speaking clearly.
Your ears can be protected by all of these steps. But if you want to keep your hearing in good shape you can do one more thing: make an appointment with us for a hearing examination. Catching hearing loss before you even notice it can be achieved by having regular tests. Even if your hearing is perfectly fine, an exam will still be capable of providing a useful baseline to compare against future results.
Keep Your Ears Healthy by Wearing Hearing Aids
The world we live in can be boisterous. Your ability to protect against damage is essential, but you may ultimately notice some hearing loss even with your best efforts. You need to seek out help right away if you do detect any symptoms of hearing loss. A good set of hearing aids can help counter some of the so-called age-related problems related to hearing impairments.
You could maybe think of hearing aids as a facelift for your ears: something to make your ears to work a little more youthfully. And dementia, depression, and other problems can be avoided. The analogy isn’t ideal, because hearing aids are needed and a facelift isn’t, but you get the point. Wrinkle creams may help you look younger. But if you really want to combat aging and feel a bit more youthful, your best bet is to protect your ears and deal with your hearing loss.