As we age, loss of hearing is generally perceived as an inescapable fact of life. Hearing loss is experienced by lots of older Americans and so 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 have loss of hearing?
A new study from Canada posits that more than 50 percent of all Canadians middle-aged and older suffer from some kind of hearing loss, but that 77% of those people do not document any problems. Some type of hearing loss is impacting over 48 million Americans and goes un-addressed. It’s up for debate whether this denial is on purpose or not, but it’s still true that a significant number of people allow their loss of hearing to go unchecked – which could bring about considerable issues later on in life.
Why do Some People Not Know They Have Hearing Loss?
It’s a complex question. Loss of hearing is a gradual process, and problems understanding people and hearing things go undetected. Or, more frequently, they may 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 interference. hearing loss can be blamed, unfortunately, on quite a few things, and getting a hearing test or getting checked out, usually, is not a person’s first reaction.
It also happens that some people just won’t accept that they have hearing loss. Another study conducted in the United States shows that lots of seniors who have hearing issues flat out deny it. They do what they can to cover up their issue, either because they don’t want to admit to having a problem or because of perceived stigmas associated with hearing loss.
The problem with both of these scenarios is that by rejecting or not noticing you have a hearing problem you could actually be negatively influencing your overall health.
There Can be Serious Consequences From Neglected Hearing Loss
Loss of hearing does not exclusively affect your ears – high blood pressure and heart disease have also been linked to hearing loss along with anxiety, depression, and mental decline.
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 treated their hearing loss using hearing aids, changes in their diet, or cognitive behavioral therapy.
It’s crucial to acknowledge the indications of hearing loss – chronic ringing or humming in the ears, problems carrying on conversations, having to crank up the volume of your radio or TV.
What Can be Done About Hearing Loss?
There are a number of treatment options you can do to get your loss of hearing under control. Hearing aids are the most prevalent form of treatment, and you won’t have the same kinds of problems that your grandparents or parents did because hearing aid tech has progressed considerably. Hearing aids now have the ability to filter out background noise and wind, while also wirelessly connecting to devices like your radio, TV, or tablet.
A dietary changes may also have a beneficial impact on your hearing health if you suffer from anemia. Since anemia iron deficiency has been demonstrated to cause hearing loss, people who have tinnitus can be helped by consuming foods that are high in iron.
Getting your hearing examined on a regular basis, however, is the most significant thing you can do.
Are you concerned you may have hearing problems? Make an appointment to have a hearing test.