Have you noticed that you are asking people to repeat themselves more often recently? Are people around you complaining that the TV is too loud? There may be a chance that you are experiencing hearing loss. There is a wide range of reasons that somebody loses their hearing, and it may not always be permanent. Temporary hearing loss can be caused by an ear infection or a build-up of wax. If you see an audiologist, they will be able to tell you whether your hearing loss is likely to be permanent or not.
In some cases, they may diagnose you with permanent hearing loss and recommend hearing aids. A lot of younger people feel embarrassed or self-conscious about wearing hearing aids because they associate them with the elderly. The reality is that 65% of people that experience hearing loss are under the age of 65, and one in five Americans over the age of 12 have hearing issues, so it is not just a problem associated with the elderly. If an audiologist diagnoses you with hearing loss, it is important that you take their advice and use hearing aids.
Hearing loss has a big impact on all areas of your life and it can affect your overall health and happiness. But the right hearing aids can alleviate the problems caused by hearing loss. These are the top five benefits to wearing hearing aids.
Improved Relationships
Hearing loss can make it difficult to maintain good relationships. A lack of understanding between you and your partner may lead to unnecessary arguments, and it is harder to communicate effectively when your hearing is impaired. Hearing loss also makes it difficult to follow conversations in social situations, especially if you are in a loud environment. This leads to people avoiding social situations and relationships with friends may experience hardships as a result. In some cases, isolating themselves can increase the risk of developing mental health issues like depression.
But if you see an audiologist and get fitted for hearing aids, it improves your ability to engage with people socially so your relationships do not suffer.
Greater Independence
Living independently is difficult for people with advanced hearing loss. Things like driving are dangerous if you cannot hear very well. That means that you will be reliant on others to get places. Some people also find that being in crowded situations makes them nervous because they cannot hear properly. This means that simple tasks like grocery shopping can be incredibly distressing. However, if you wear hearing aids, you will be able to do things on your own again and your confidence will improve.
Higher Income
Hearing loss often leads to reduced performance at work. Being unable to hear instructions properly means that you are more likely to make mistakes, and if your performance is affected a lot, you may be deemed unfit to work. Any job that involves speaking on the phone on a regular basis is particularly difficult for people that have hearing loss. Studies show that people that are hard of hearing are far more likely to experience a decrease in their income as a result. However, if you use hearing aids, that drop in income is reduced by up to 90%.
Reduced Tinnitus Symptoms
Tinnitus is a very common problem that causes a ringing or clicking sound in the ears. It makes it difficult to sleep and causes a lot of problems with concentration. Both of these issues feed into your performance at work, so if you experience tinnitus as well as hearing loss, it is important that you tackle it. Even if your hearing loss is not yet an issue, an audiologist can fit you with hearing aids that help to combat your tinnitus symptoms.
Lower Risk Of Cognitive Decline
When a person is living with untreated hearing loss, areas of their brain that deal with speech recognition can degrade. Over time, this contributes to a higher risk of cognitive decline and your ability to understand those around you will get worse. Even if you are relatively young, it can still increase the risk of cognitive decline as you get older. However, you can slow this process by using hearing aids.
No matter what age you are, hearing loss needs to be dealt with right away. If it is not, it will seriously impact your quality of life and increase your risk of further health issues. There is no need to feel embarrassed about wearing hearing aids so if you think that you may need them, get in touch with Kampsen Hearing right away. You can call (813) 369-5692 to reach our team.