As we age, hearing loss is commonly regarded as an inescapable fact of life. Many older Americans suffer from some kind of hearing loss or tinnitus, which is a persistent ringing in the ears. But if it’s such an accepted condition, why do so many people deny that they deal with hearing loss?
A new study from Canada reports that loss of hearing is experienced by over half of Canadians, but that 77% of those individuals do not report any problems. Some kind of hearing loss is experienced by more than 48 million Americans and goes un-addressed. It’s up for debate whether this denial is on purpose or not, but in either case, loss of hearing is ignored by a substantial number of people – which, down the road, could cause considerable problems.
Why do Some Individuals Not Recognize They Suffer From Hearing Loss?
It’s a tricky question. Loss of hearing is a slow process, and trouble understanding people and hearing things go unnoticed. Or, more commonly, they might 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 getting a hearing test or getting checked out, normally, is not a person’s first reaction.
It also happens that some individuals just won’t accept that they suffer from hearing loss. Another study conducted in the United States shows that many seniors flat out deny that they have a hearing problem. They hide their problem 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 problem with both of these situations is that by denying or not noticing you have a hearing problem you could actually be negatively impacting your general health.
There Can be Serious Repercussions From Neglected Hearing Loss
Loss of hearing does not only affect your ears – it has been connected to various conditions like anxiety, cognitive decline, and depression, and it can also be a symptom of high blood pressure and heart disease.
Research has revealed that people who have managed their loss of hearing with cognitive therapy, diet changes and hearing aids have better general health and longer life spans.
It’s important to acknowledge the signs of hearing loss – difficulty carrying on conversations, cranking up the volume on the radio or TV, or a chronic humming or ringing in your ears.
How Can You Manage Hearing Loss?
There are several treatment methods you can undertake to get your loss of hearing under control. Hearing aids are the most common type of treatment, and you won’t have the same types of problems that your parents or grandparents did because hearing aid technology has advanced appreciably. Hearing aids can now filter out background noise and wind, while also connecting wirelessly to devices like your TV, tablet, or radio.
A dietary changes could impact your hearing health if you suffer from anemia. Since anemia iron deficiency has been revealed to cause loss of hearing, people who suffer from tinnitus can be helped by consuming foods that are high in iron.
The most important thing you can do, though, is to have your hearing tested routinely.
Are you concerned you could have hearing problems? Visit us and get screened.