Did You Know Hearing Loss Is Linked To Many Health Challenges?
Hearing disorder is one of the most dominant chronic conditions in America, and it can happen at any age; in fact, more than half of the people affected are under the age of 65.
But, did you know that hearing loss is linked to many different health challenges? Here are a few of the most common:
Psychological and Social Issues
If untreated, hearing loss can lead to emotional and social consequences.
Psychological effects include frustration, embarrassment, tension, withdrawal, depression, irritability, anger, suspiciousness and negativity.
Social aspects of hearing loss involve difficulty communicating with others, misunderstandings, etc., creating a strain on relationships and a loss of self – esteem.
Social isolation leads to loneliness, the risk for poor eating, smoking, alcohol use, lack of exercise, depression, dementia, poor sleep and heart disease.
Many recent studies have found that people with hearing issues who don’t use hearing aids are considerably less likely to participate in social activities, leading to social isolation and depression.
Cognitive Decline
Research demonstrates the considerable negative effects of hearing loss on development and cognitive abilities, such as impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks. This can lead to, among other issues, reduced job performance and earning power. In fact, people who have difficulty hearing can experience inaccurate and incomplete communication, impacting their professional and personal lives.
Unfortunately, hearing loss is not just a condition of old age – it can strike at any time and any age, even the young. In such cases, even a mild or moderate hearing loss could bring difficulty in developing speech, learning, and building necessary interpersonal skills.
Also, recent findings suggest that hearing loss may play a very important role in brain health – the worse the initial impairment was, the more likely the person may be to develop dementia. With age, certain structures of brain cells can shrink, however, the process is accelerated when there is hearing loss, as the cells do not get enough stimulation.
Physical Health
Some physical consequences of hearing loss are tiredness and exhaustion, headache, eating and sleeping problems, sexual problems, reduced alertness, difficulty walking, increased risk to personal safety, and decline in overall physical health.
Some studies have shown a possible link between hearing loss and neuropathy, or nerve damage.
At Resonance Audiology & Hearing Aid Center, LLC, we are hearing care experts and enthusiasts committed to bringing as much light onto the topic of hearing loss and how it affects people.
As we’ve seen, there are many aspects of our lives that get negatively affected by reduced hearing, and many can have far-reaching implications that go well beyond hearing alone.
Our proficient hearing aid doctors are here to help you with a hearing test and with selecting and dispensing the hearing solution best suited to your personal, professional, cosmetic and financial needs.
While almost 27 million Americans over the age of 50 have some type of hearing loss, only one in seven uses a hearing aid solution.
Contact us today at one of our two offices in Lancaster and New Holland and learn more about hearing loss and superior hearing aid solutions for you or your loved one.