Can you hear me now? Why you should care about your hearing.
I´ve always thought about hearing aids as the equivalent of prescription glasses. Want to see better? Get some prescription glasses. Want to hear better? Get a pair of hearing aids. Sounds straightforward, right? But it turns out that some medical conditions, like hearing loss and the use of hearing aids, are frequently stigmatized. Feeling stigmatized implies a strong feeling of disapproval or estrangement by society or by oneself (self-stigma). Luckily this negative connotation seems to be dissipating.
Universal truths about hearing loss
- Hearing loss affects people of all ages
- There are different types of hearing loss
- There is a solution for nearly every type of hearing loss
Avoiding help to correct a hearing deficit may come at a higher cost than you think. I don´t want to sound like a Drew or Debbie Downer, but to understand the importance of having your hearing checked, first let´s look at how hearing loss can impact your life. According to this study, diminished hearing in the elderly is linked with accelerated rates of cognitive decline, depression, increased risk of dementia, poorer balance, falls, hospitalizations, and early mortality. Cognitive impairment implies having difficulty remembering, learning new things, concentrating, and making important decisions.
Unfortunately, the elderly are not the only group deeply affected by hearing loss. The consequences of hearing loss in children can be far-reaching and affect a child´s ability to develop speech, language, and social skills.
You´re not in these age groups? Should you still get your hearing checked? Absolutely yes. Approximately 14% of adults (aged 20–69) have hearing loss. On average, adults wait more than 10 years after being diagnosed with hearing loss to get hearing aids. Getting an early diagnosis and being proactive about your hearing loss is important. Talking with your doctor or ENT about the cause of your hearing loss is also key. Maybe you can prevent further hearing loss. If your hearing loss is progressive, adapting to a hearing aid will likely be easier now than later down the line. Hearing aids don´t cover your hearing loss range? Talk to your ENT about the possibility of implantable devices like the cochlear implant. The cochlear implant was the first medical device to restore a human sense. Incredible!
Prevention is key. But when hearing loss is unavoidable and banging at the door, visit your ENT today. Your future self will thank you.
