Hearing loss – it’s normally thought os as a given as we get older. Lots of older Americans suffer from some form of hearing loss or tinnitus, which is a constant ringing in the ears. But for such an accepted ailment many people still deny they suffer from loss of hearing.
A new study from Canada says that loss of hearing is experienced by more than 50 percent of Canadians, but that 77% of those individuals do not report any problems. In the United States, over 48 million people have some form of hearing loss, but many do not attempt to address it. It’s up for debate whether this denial is deliberate or not, but either way, hearing loss is ignored by a substantial number of people – which could result in significant issues down the road.
Why do Some People Not Recognize They Suffer From Loss of Hearing?
It’s a tricky matter. It’s a slow process when someone loses their hearing, and difficulty understanding people and hearing things go unnoticed. Many times they blame everyone else around them – the person they’re talking to is mumbling, the TV volume is too low, or there’s too much background interference. hearing loss can be blamed, unfortunately, on a number of things, and people’s first reaction is not normally going to be to get examined or get a hearing test.
It also happens that some individuals just won’t accept that they have hearing loss. Another study conducted in the United States shows that lots of seniors simply refuse to admit that they are suffering from a hearing problem. They hide their issue however they can, either because they don’t want to admit to having a problem or because of perceived stigmas attached to hearing loss.
The concern is, you may be negatively impacting your general health by neglecting your hearing loss.
There Can be Serious Consequences From Untreated Hearing Loss
It’s not only your ears that are impacted by loss of hearing – heart disease and high blood pressure have also been associated with hearing loss and also anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline.
Research has demonstrated that people who have addressed their hearing loss with cognitive therapy, changes of diet and hearing aids have better general health and longer life expectancy.
It’s necessary to acknowledge the indications of hearing loss – problems having conversations, cranking up the volume on the TV and radio, or a chronic ringing or humming in your ears.
How do You Treat Hearing Loss?
There are several treatment methods you can undertake to get your loss of hearing under control. Hearing aids are the most prevalent type of treatment, and hearing aid technology has developed by leaps and bounds over the past several years so it’s unlikely you’ll encounter the same issues your parents or grandparents did. Modern hearing aids have Bluetooth connectivity so they can connect wirelessly to your smartphone or TV and they are capable of filtering out background noise and wing.
A changes in the way you eat may also have a positive impact on the health of your hearing if you have anemia. Since anemia iron deficiency has been revealed to cause hearing loss, people who have tinnitus can be helped by consuming foods that are rich in iron.
Getting your hearing tested regularly, however, is the most important thing you can do.
Do you think that you’re suffering from loss of hearing? Make an appointment for a hearing assessment.