Loss of hearing – it’s generally perceived as a given as we age. Lots of older Americans suffer from some kind of hearing loss or tinnitus, which is a continuous ringing in the ears. But for such an accepted ailment lots of people still deny they suffer from loss of hearing.

A new study from Canada suggests that over half of all Canadians middle-aged and older cope with some form of loss of hearing, but no problems were reported at all by more than 77% percent of those. In the US, over 48 million individuals have some type of hearing loss, but many do not attempt to address it. It’s debatable whether this denial is deliberate or not, but either way, hearing loss is neglected by a substantial number of people – which could cause considerable issues later on in life.

Why is Hearing Loss Not Recognized by Some people?

It’s a challenging matter. Hearing loss is a gradual process, and some people may not even notice that they are having a more difficult time hearing things or understanding people than they used to. A lot of times they blame everybody else around them – they believe that everyone is mumbling, volumes aren’t turned up loud enough, or there’s too much background noise. There are, unfortunately, numerous things that hearing loss can be blamed on, and people’s first instinct is not usually going to be to get checked out or have a hearing test.

Conversely, there may be some individuals who know they’re suffering from hearing loss but won’t admit it. Another study conducted in the United States shows that lots of seniors flat out refuse to admit that they are suffering from a hearing problem. They hide their problem in any way they can, either because they don’t want to admit to having an issue or because of perceived stigmas associated with hearing loss.

The difficulty is, you may be negatively affecting your overall health by ignoring your hearing loss.

There Can be Extreme Consequences From Neglected Hearing Loss

It’s not just your ears that are affected by loss of hearing – it has been linked to various conditions such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline, and it can also be a symptom of heart disease and high blood pressure.

Research has revealed that people who have hearing loss generally have shorter life expectancy rates and their level of health is not as good as others who have treated their hearing loss using hearing aids, dietary changes, or cognitive behavioral treatment.

It’s crucial to recognize the signs of hearing loss – problems carrying on conversations, cranking up the volume on the TV and radio, or a lingering humming or ringing in your ears.

How Can You Manage Hearing Loss?

There are several treatment methods you can do to get your loss of hearing under control. Hearing aids are the most common form of treatment, and hearing aid tech has grown leaps and bounds over the past few years so it’s unlikely you’ll have the same issues your grandparents or parents did. Hearing aids now have the ability to filter out background noise and wind, while also wirelessly connecting to devices like your radio, TV, or tablet.

A dietary changes might also have a positive effect on your hearing health if you have anemia. Since anemia iron deficiency has been shown to cause hearing loss, people who have tinnitus can be helped by consuming foods that are rich in iron.

The most important thing you can do, though, is to get your hearing tested on a regular basis.

Do you think that might have loss of hearing? Visit us and get tested.