If you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves or are focusing your attention to catch what someone’s saying, it might be signs indicating a hearing problem. Continuing to focus your attention and hearing to track conversations can be exhausting and isolating.
If you think you’re having a hard time hearing, it might be time to look for hearing aids. You can do a quick search online to see what technology is available and what options there are. It’s also good to consult your doctor to get a professional opinion.
What is Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss is often associated with aging but is a common occurrence for people of all ages, including young people. The Hearing Loss Associate of America (HLAA) estimates that nearly 20% of Americans have experienced some form of hearing loss. It translates to 48 million people in the U.S. who have a daily struggle to hear. Unfortunately, it only gets worse. The HLAA continued to report that for ages over 50, 40% of the people have hearing loss; at 65 and older, 1 in 3 people experience hearing loss.
The good news is that advancements in technology are allowing for hearing devices that are newer, faster, better, and more affordable. A search online will show how many options there are to improve your struggled hearing with comfortable and subtle hearing aids.
Types of Hearing Loss
It’s always important to get regular hearing check-ups to make sure your hearing is healthy. It can help your doctor identify any causes of subtle hearing loss and the impact it could have on your life. There are different ways hearing loss can occur, and a doctor is specially qualified to detect and treat each one.
The most common way hearing loss occurs is through aging and the continued exposure to loud noises, such a working in a busy factory during a long career. Exposure to noises can slowly damage the tiny hairs inside your ear, causing them to stop functioning. It means they can no longer pick up sound waves as they used to when they were healthy.
Another common cause of hearing loss can involve the shape of the ear. It can mean malformation, nerve-related hearing loss, damage to the ear canal, eardrum, middle ear, or some combination of a problem with all of the above.
If there is no structural issue with your ear or damage to the small hairs, hearing loss could also be due to benign tumors, foreign objects, ear infections, or fluid or wax build-up. These can all be caught in a standard check-up with your doctor, letting you combat the early signs of hearing loss.
Accepting the Truth of Hearing Loss
It can be hard for people to accept that they are losing their age, especially when they think it is only an issue for the elderly. Through regular check-ups and awareness, it is an avoidable issue for people who value their ear health. Make sure to listen to your doctor and follow the advice they dispense.
Misunderstanding your friends and missing out on fun social events can be extremely frustrating when you can’t hear well. It is better to accept that your hearing is declining than withdraw and miss out on all the sounds of the world. Hearing aids are a great way to improve your hearing in a way that is not noticeable to other people.
Let Technology Solve Your Hearing Loss
Technology has improved hearing aids well past what your grandparents probably wore. The hearing aids being sold today have greatly improved designs and smaller sizes, more similar to a secret agent’s earpiece than a large brick over your ear. Most of them are discreet and able to fit almost invisibly in your ear without being uncomfortable. They can even connect to your smartphone through a variety of apps. They are completely adjustable, have waterproof features, and will bring no noticeable change to your day-to-day routine.
Hearing loss can be difficult to accept, but it is a normal part of aging. Conversations and social interactions are an essential part of the human experience, and missing out on that common activity because you’re straining to hear can be frustrating and depressing. Once you’ve acknowledged that your hearing is becoming a problem, it’s easy to search for solutions to your problem.
Continue to get your hearing tested by your doctor to look for telltale signs of hearing loss. The hearing aids of today are small, subtle, and powerful, letting you enjoy sounds without anyone knowing you’re wearing a hearing aid. Take a look online today and see how to improve your hearing.
