Hearing loss affects nearly 20% of the global population. While we often think of hearing loss as a static condition, it usually progresses over time. Whether your hearing loss is due to aging, noise exposure, illness or other common causes, identifying and treating it early on can make a big difference in how it affects you.
How Important Is Hearing?
From the time your alarm wakes you up in the morning until you wind down in the evening, your hearing provides you with a constant stream of information. Hearing is crucial to effective communication, personal and professional development, emotional connection and physical safety.
When you develop hearing loss, no matter how mild, you can feel the effects in every part of your life.
How Does Hearing Loss Impact Your Life?
Five key ways hearing loss can impact your life include:
- Cognitive health. Your brain requires stimulation to stay strong and active. With hearing loss, that crucial input is diminished. A twelve-year Johns Hopkins study of 639 adults discovered that mild hearing loss can double the risk of developing dementia. As hearing loss progresses, so does your risk for cognitive decline.
- Social isolation and loneliness. When hearing loss turns happy hours at Taffer’s Tavern into communication nightmares, it feels easier to stay home. Constant social isolation can, in turn, lead to loneliness, depression and anxiety.
- Safety concerns. Hearing loss can affect your ability to detect warning sounds, such as alarms, sirens and warning shouts, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Dependence. Hearing loss dampens independence by increasing your need to rely on others. While you shouldn’t feel bad about leaning on your friends and family, it’s normal to want to do things on your own. When simple tasks like driving to the grocery store start to feel unsafe or stressful, hearing treatment becomes crucial.
- Hindered personal growth. Difficulty hearing can lead to misunderstandings, missed information and decreased productivity, resulting in poor professional and academic growth.
Taking the Leap Into Treatment
If you or a loved one suspects hearing loss, don’t wait to seek help. Early detection and treatment can prevent many of the adverse effects associated with untreated hearing loss. Contact Advanced Hearing to schedule a hearing test and consultation with one of our trusted specialists. Taking this step can significantly improve your quality of life and well-being.