While we are young and energetic, we don’t appreciate the time we have allotted. In the meantime, life passes quickly. The older we get, the more we try to cheat time by jumping on the steps of the passing train of youth. To stay socially active, people go through all sorts of tricks. Some do yoga, others use rejuvenating diets, and some use a variety of tools and drugs. But they all forget one important fact. Age affects not only appearance but also our thinking, memory, and attention. Time cannot be stopped. But you can feel young and happy at any age! How to achieve it? Wear hearing aids!
How does the risk of hearing loss increase with age?
Today, hearing loss is one of the top 10 most common disorders worldwide. There are many reasons why hearing loss is spreading so rapidly among the population. The problem is most common among people living in metropolitan areas, and there is an explanation. Various factors increase a person’s risk of developing hearing loss. These include:
- Age-related changes
- Noise pollution (subway, highways)
- Constant stress (at work or at home)
- Bad habits (alcohol, smoking, vaping)
- Directional eating (e.g., fatty foods)
Let’s look at age-related changes in more detail. After all, each of us is getting older, which means we are at risk. What do statistics say about it?
After the age of 45, the risk of hearing loss begins to increase at a significantly higher rate. Between 45 and 54 years of age, 11% of people have some degree of hearing loss. By the age of 80, that number rises to 90%. About 25% of people aged 65-74 years and 50% of people over 75 have a disabling hearing loss (greater than 45 dB). And one more statistical fact. Men are twice as likely as women to have hearing loss before the age of 70.
Along with aging, exposure to excessive noise contributes to the development of hearing loss. It can be industrial, social, and personal factors. Of those who are recommended to wear hearing aids, only one in seven follow the recommendation.
Causes of hearing loss are different, but the result is always the same: a decrease in hearing acuity. Hearing loss affects all aspects of your life, dividing your life into before and after. Can hearing be restored? No, it is an irreversible process. But you can start to hear and understand the sounds around you again in all acoustic situations with the help of hearing aids.
These small and stylish devices reduce some sounds and amplify others. As a result, the hard-of-hearing begins to understand external sounds and voices. But choosing and buying medical devices is not as easy as it seems at first glance. Therefore, the first step to recovery is to make an appointment for a consultation with an ear doctor Staten Island. The Hearing care professional will perform the necessary tests, diagnose you and choose the medical devices for you.
Use a hearing aid to prolong the age-related activity
Hearing aids return the ability to hear and understand the sounds around us. Today it is the most effective treatment for mild to moderate hearing loss. Few people realize that they bring back more than just hearing. After all, hard-of-hearing return to an active and happy life, forgetting past problems! What do the statistics say about it?
Increase in social activity by 20%
Communication is an essential part of everyday life. You feel happier and younger when spending time with your family and friends. Hearing aid allows you to stay socially active and involved in the community.
Less likely to develop age-related intellectual disabilities
Anyone who has experienced caring for a relative with dementia knows how difficult it is when your loved one has trouble understanding what is going on around them, constantly forgets important things, and becomes cranky and irritable. Hearing aids have been proven to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related senile dementia.
30% reduction in the risk of loss of balance
As we age, our balance becomes more difficult to maintain, and the risk of an involuntary injury rises. We must also consider the decrease in bone mineral density, which can result in a trivial fall and long-term rehabilitation in the hospital. And being in the hospital does not contribute much to a good mood. A hearing aid will give you more stability and confidence in moving around.
30% reduction in the risk of depression
According to studies, people who wear hearing aids are less likely to be depressed. Such behavior is based on subjective (they are less sad and lonely) and objective factors (they are less likely to annoy others by constantly asking them to repeat).
Reducing the likelihood of getting into embarrassing situations
How many times have you had a misunderstanding with someone because you misheard or misunderstood what they were saying? And when a person raised the voice to be heard, you were offended because you felt like you were being yelled at. Hearing loss harms your relationships with family, friends, and acquaintances. It can breed quarrels, grudges, resentment, and annoyance. Hearing instruments can help to maintain a healthy family environment and a friendly atmosphere at work and with friends.
Aging and hearing loss go hand in hand. But you have the opportunity to remain active and have an excellent memory and cognitive function. And you don’t need to have plastic surgery to do it. Using hearing aids for hearing loss is enough. With their help, you’ll be an active and happy person for many years, despite the numbers on the passport!
