Hearing loss is presently a public health concern and scientists think that it will become a lot more common for people in their 20’s to be wearing hearing aids.
When you consider serious hearing loss, ideas of elderly people may come to mind. But over the past few years, there has been a spike in hearing loss impacting all age groups. Hearing loss obviously isn’t an aging issue it’s a growing crisis and the rising cases among all age groups illustrates this.
With adults 20 and older, researchers predict that hearing loss will rise by 40%. The healthcare network sees this as a serious public health concern. One out of five people is, according to John Hopkins medical research, having a hard time communicating because of extreme hearing loss.
Let’s see why experts are so concerned and what’s causing a spike in hearing loss amongst all age groups.
Added Health Issues Can be The Consequence of Hearing Loss
Serious hearing loss is an awful thing to cope with.. Communication is aggravating, fatiguing, and challenging every day. Individuals can frequently withdraw from their friends and family and stop doing the things they enjoy. When you’re experiencing significant hearing loss, it will be impossible to be active without seeking help.
It’s not only diminished hearing that people with untreated hearing loss are afflicted by. They’re a lot more likely to develop:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Other serious health problems
- Dementia
- Cognitive decline
- Injuries from recurring falls
They also have difficulty getting their everyday needs met and are more likely to have problems with personal relationships.
Individuals who endure hearing loss are affected in their personal lives and may also have increased:
- Insurance rates
- Needs for public assistance
- Accident rates
- Disability rates
- Healthcare expenses
These factors reveal that hearing loss is a significant obstacle we need to deal with as a society.
Why Are Numerous Age Groups Experiencing Increased Hearing Loss?
The current rise in hearing loss can be linked to a number of factors. One factor is the increased incidence of common conditions that can cause hearing loss, including:
- Anxiety and unmanaged stress
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular disease
- Obesity
- Poor diet and a lack of regular exercise
- Diabetes
These conditions and other related conditions are contributing to increased hearing loss because they’re happening to people at younger ages.
Lifestyle also plays a major role in the increased occurrence of hearing loss. Exposure to loud sounds is more prevalent, specifically in work environments and recreational areas. Modern technology is often loud, and we’re being exposed to loud music and other noises in more places. It’s often the younger age groups who have the highest degree of noise exposure in:
- Shooting ranges
- Bars, clubs, and concerts
- Factories
- Gyms
Moreover, many people are cranking the volume of their music up to hazardous levels and are using earbuds. And a greater number of individuals are now using painkillers, either to treat chronic pain or recreationally. Opiates, ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen will increase your chance of hearing loss especially if used over a extended time periods.
How is Society Responding to Hearing Loss as a Health Problem?
Hearing loss is getting the attention of local, national, and world organizations. They’re trying to stop this upward trend by educating the public on hearing loss such as:
- Treatment possibilities
- Risk factors
- Prevention
- Research
These organizations also urge individuals to:
- Have their hearing evaluated sooner in their lives
- Wear their hearing aids
- Recognize their level of hearing loss risk
Hearing loss will get worse with any delay in these measures.
Scientists, healthcare providers, and government organizations are looking for solutions. They’re also looking for ways to bring hearing-loss related costs down. This will help increase accessibility to state-of-the-art hearing technologies that significantly enhance lives.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with scientists and organizations to develop comprehensive strategies. Lowering the risk of hearing loss among underserved groups is being addressed with health services, education, and awareness.
Local leaders are being made aware of the health impact of noise by being given researched-based guidelines for communities. They work with communities to minimize resident’s noise exposure and teach what safe levels of noise are. In addition, they are facilitating research on how opiate use and abuse can raise the risk of hearing loss.
What You Can do?
Stay informed because hearing loss is a public health problem. Share useful information with others and take action to slow the advancement of your own hearing loss.
Have your own hearing checked if you suspect you are experiencing hearing loss. If you discover you need hearing aids, make sure you wear them.
The ultimate goal is to avoid all hearing loss. When you wear your hearing aids, you help people recognize they’re not alone. You’re helping your community become more aware of the problems of hearing loss. This awareness has the power to transform attitudes, policies, and actions.
