Hearing health has no age restrictions; everyone can take steps now to protect and care for their hearing.
This year’s World Hearing Day was designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a day to change mindsets and empower people of all ages to take care of their hearing health. As an audiologist at HearUSA, I can confidently say the simple truth is this: the earlier you address your hearing health, the better the outcome will be.
Unfortunately, there is a widespread lack of awareness of healthy hearing practices. There’s also an enduring stigma that hearing loss is reserved only for the older population, or that wearing hearing aids is a sign of aging. But the sooner you can begin taking precautions against hearing loss, the better chance you will have of preserving your hearing. Plus, the earlier you can treat hearing loss (regardless of your age), the better the treatment will work for you.
Addressing your hearing health is incredibly important. Healthy hearing is not just a nice-to-have; those with hearing loss are at higher risk of cognitive decline, diabetes, and falling. Hearing loss could also result in social isolation since people tend to withdraw from conversations and interactions instead of struggling to listen to others – impacting mental health and potentially leading to depression. That’s why, regardless of age, empowering others to prevent, care for, and advocate for their hearing health is so important to maintain quality of life across-the-board.
Hearing loss prevention is an every-day consideration
Older generations are certainly more aware of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) risks because they’ve experienced how sound can damage their hearing over time. But the younger generation is growing up in an incredibly noisy world – noisier than ever – and protecting their hearing throughout life is the best way to help prevent loss.
Doing so requires vigilance in understanding what loud sounds (even those you might not think of) could be damaging to your hearing long term. NIHL can occur from both one-time loud exposures and repeated or prolonged exposure to moderately loud sounds. For example, a lawn mower or a power tool even after one use can affect your hearing. Wearing ear plugs while undergoing any loud activity can go a long way and establish a healthy precedent to protect hearing.
This also includes understanding what venues you attend might be loud and planning accordingly. We all know that concerts operate at loud volumes (so bring your earplugs along as well), but there are also more common, lesser-known venues that impact hearing health, like restaurants. Open-concept restaurants with fewer curtains and drapery reverberate sound, creating a noisy environment that prompts others to shout above the din or music during conversations. Avoiding noticeably loud restaurants or seating yourself next to a wall in a corner where noise is less likely to echo, can help prevent hearing loss.
Of course, in-ear headphones—especially popular among younger generations—are another concern. It’s critical to keep volumes down and avoid prolonged exposure to loud music. Your ears will thank you later.
If it’s time to seek care, do it now!
When it comes to hearing care, many clients don’t feel ready to treat their hearing loss, whether it’s because of the age-related stigma, or the incorrect notion that it’s not that big of a deal. According to multiple studies, people on average wait seven years or more to address their hearing loss.
In addition to helping mitigate against major health risks, early hearing loss detection is key to better treatment. The longer you wait to wear hearing aids if you need them, the less benefit you could potentially have. With untreated hearing loss, word understanding within the brain declines over time, and unfortunately that’s not something hearing aids can correct. If hearing loss is detected early on, and word understanding is still preserved, hearing aids will yield better benefits.
There’s never harm in getting a hearing test; it’s simple to incorporate into your basic healthcare routine, factoring it into your doctor visit rotation like seeing a dentist or optometrist. If the test results are normal, it’s great to have a baseline for future reference. If the test concludes that you do have hearing loss, there are various hearing aid solutions on the market that offer innovative technologies to improve your quality of life, like background noise reduction, tinnitus treatment, and beyond. You can also rest assured that new designs prioritize aesthetics, offering a sleek look that often resembles consumer earbuds.
Advocate for yourself when necessary
Once hearing loss is confirmed, some clients may feel timid about explaining their situation to others. But considering the theme this World Hearing Day, I encourage you to seek help or adjustments when needed!
This is incredibly relevant in environments such as the workplace. In an office setting, background noise is pervasive, which is one of the biggest complaints for those living with hearing loss. Workers with hearing loss might find it difficult to operate efficiently in the office – especially if their employers are not aware. If you have hearing loss, speak with your supervisors so that they can help create a work environment that’s more conducive to you.
Regardless of where you are in your hearing health journey, keeping protection and care top-of-mind – regardless of age – is a great way to protect health in the future. If you suspect you have hearing loss or are experiencing tinnitus, find your closest HearUSA location at www.hearusa.com/hearing-centers and book a complimentary hearing aid screening today.
