Seems as if we’re always trying to stay youthful. We spend countless hours undertaking everything possible to stay young. From specialized diets to fad workout programs to Botox to wrinkle creams. And yet, even with all that effort (and all that time), the one thing that might actually work, we tend to avoid: wearing ear protection.
The majority of people probably consider hearing loss as inevitable as we get older. But it’s not that simple. By safeguarding your ears (and treating them with some kindness on the way), you can help avoid harm and keep your hearing in good condition. And good hearing can have significant anti-aging benefits as the years go on.
Aging And Hearing
The actual passage of time is not normally what we are referring to when we talk about aging. Instead, specific mental. emotional, or physical changes are indications that a person is getting older. A good example of this is pain in your joints. When your knees start to bother you, you may relate that with “getting old”. But it’s not age by itself that causes the problem (your everyday 5-mile run may have something to do with it, too).
Many types of hearing loss fall under this category. As you age, damage builds up. And in most cases, it’s the build-up of damage that leads to the actual hearing degeneration. And it’s often downhill from there. Untreated hearing loss has been associated with a number of other signs of aging:
- Research has shown a strong link between neglected hearing loss, depression, and anxiety.
- When hearing problems are undetected and neglected they can often accelerate the onset of other mental health issues, including dementia.
- In some instances, the mental demand involved in attempting to hear can result in issues such as loss of memory or insomnia. And, in an especially profound way, that can make you feel like you are getting old.
- Self isolation from friends and family can be the consequence of neglected hearing loss.
What to do About Age Related Hearing Loss
You’re actually emphasizing damage prevention when you combat the “signs of aging” in your ears. And it’s fortunate that we can achieve that using several methods. For instance, you can:
- If you happen to work in a somewhat noisy environment, wear hearing protection. With modern quality ear muffs, loud noises are eliminated while voices are still able to be heard with clarity.
- As much as you can, avoid loud noises. And when you can’t avoid high volume locations, wear hearing protection. So make certain you wear earplugs when you go see your favorite band.
- Boost your awareness. It isn’t only the painfully loud sounds that can result in harm. Moderate noise for longer periods of time can cause injury to your ears, too.
All of these steps will help safeguard your ears. But if you want to keep your hearing in good condition you can do one more thing: make an appointment with us for a hearing examination. Catching hearing loss before you even notice it can be accomplished by having regular tests. Even if your hearing is perfectly normal, a screening will still be able to provide a useful baseline to compare against future results.
Keep Your Ears Healthy With Hearing Aids
We live in a noisy world. Your ability to prevent damage is critical, but you may ultimately notice some hearing loss even with your best efforts. You need to seek out help right away if you do notice any symptoms of hearing loss. Some of the age related issues related to hearing loss can be avoided with a good pair of set aids.
You can perhaps consider hearing aids as a facelift for your ears: something to make your ears to perform a little more youthfully. And dementia, depression, and other problems can be prevented. The example isn’t perfect, as hearing aids are essential and a facelift isn’t, but you get the point. Wrinkle creams may help you look younger. But your best choice, if want to feel younger, is to treat your hearing loss and protect your hearing.
