Add Improved Hearing To Your New Year’s Health Goals!

It’s that time of year again where we prepare for the big apple to drop! Click the champagne and sing! New Year’s is almost here, and this means it’s time to look back at what we’ve accomplished and what we’d like to improve. This year, did you find that you struggled to hear the people around you? It’s common as we age. Many people live in denial about hearing loss for years before it becomes obvious. By this point it has often already begun to affect just about every aspect of your life. Let’s explore the impact of hearing loss on your life and what you can do in 2023 to lessen the effects.

Hearing loss can lead to other health problems.

An impact on our mood: When hearing loss goes unaddressed it is more serious than many of us understand. What begins as simple miscommunications can progress into rifts in relationships and decreased performance in the workplace. For those of us still in the workforce with hearing loss, it can start to cause regular miscommunications which affect your earnings and success at work. At home it can make it difficult to connect with friends, family members and even your closest relationships such as your significant other.

Increased risk of cognitive decline: This can lead to loneliness, lowered self- esteem, and chronic depression. In addition, it can cause us to avoid social interactions which used to bring us joy and help us feel a part of a larger community. When we struggle to hear, isolation can build up. For those of us as we age, loneliness not only affects our mood but cognitive health. In addition to the parts of sounds which are diminished with poor hearing, our brain must struggle to fill in blanks which puts further strain on our brain. Those with an unaddressed hearing loss have an increased risk of dementia. In fact, a study from Johns Hopkins university found that those with a moderate hearing loss have twice the risk of hearing loss versus those with normal or treated hearing. For those with a severe hearing loss the risk is tripled and those with a profound degree of hearing loss have five times the risk!

A greater risk of falls: In addition, hearing loss is a safety issue. We not only hear to help us connect to others but to connect to our surroundings. Our ears help us locate sounds in our environment and this means we can react to audio warning sounds in a safe time. When we live with hearing loss we are more likely to suffer accidents and falls which can lead to hospitalizations.

Early treatment is essential

Studies show that on average people put off seeking help for their hearing problems for an average of seven to ten years. Imagine avoiding treatment of diabetes or high blood pressure for so long before acting. It can be incredibly dangerous and impact the quality of life, sometimes in irreversible ways. The sooner you address a hearing loss the more likely you are to avoid many of the irreversible health impacts associated with hearing loss- however it can be hard to detect.

Hearing loss isn’t something that happens overnight. It may take years for the effects of gradual hearing loss to become apparent. Hearing loss in about 90 percent of cases is irreversible- however by committing to testing regularly, you can catch a hearing loss before it gets to this point.

Testing for hearing loss

It is recommended that you test for hearing loss every three to five years. However if you are in one of these groups it’s recommended that you test for hearing loss annually.

• People who work in noisy occupations such as construction, nightclub, or agricultural workers whose hearing may be affected
• Those who engage in loud hobbies or activities such as hunters, and musicians
• People who are over 60 years old.

It’s important to address hearing loss as soon as possible, not only for you and your overall health, but for the people who love you. It’s likely that the people in your life have noticed your hearing loss and its impact on how you connect. This year a gift of a hearing exam is not only for you but all the people in your life. Contact us today!