Hearing loss is currently a public health concern and scientists believe that it will become much more common for people in their 20’s to be wearing hearing aids.
When you consider severe hearing loss, thoughts of elderly people may come to mind. But over the past few years, there has been a surge in hearing loss with all age groups. Hearing loss clearly isn’t an aging issue it’s a growing epidemic and the rising instances among all age groups illustrates this.
With adults 20 and older, researchers forecast that hearing loss will increase by 40%. This is viewed as a public health problem by the healthcare community. According to John Hopkins medical researchers, one in five individuals is currently experiencing hearing loss so extreme it makes communication challenging.
Hearing loss is increasing among all age groups and here is why experts think that is.
Additional Health Problems Can be The Consequence of Hearing Loss
Serious hearing loss is a horrible thing to cope with.. Communication is frustrating, exhausting, and demanding every day. It can cause individuals to stop doing what they love and withdraw from family and friends. When you’re suffering from extreme hearing loss, it will be impossible to be active without seeking help.
It’s not only diminished hearing that individuals with neglected hearing loss suffer from. They’re also more likely to experience the following
- Other serious health problems
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Cognitive decline
- Dementia
- Injuries from recurring falls
They’re also more likely to have difficulties with their personal relationships and might have challenges getting basic needs met.
In combination with the impact on their personal lives, individuals suffering from hearing loss might face increased:
- Needs for public support
- Healthcare expenses
- Accident rates
- Disability rates
- Insurance rates
We need to fight hearing loss as a society because as these factors indicate, hearing loss is a significant challenge.
What’s Contributing to Increased Hearing Loss Across Multiple Age Groups?
The current increase in hearing loss can be attributed to numerous factors. The increased cases of some common conditions that cause hearing loss is one factor, including:
- Poor diet and a lack of regular exercise
- Anxiety and unmanaged stress
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular disease
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
More individuals are suffering from these and related conditions at earlier ages, which adds to added hearing loss.
Increased prevalence of hearing loss also has a great deal to do with lifestyle. Exposure to loud sounds is more prevalent, especially in work environments and recreational areas. We’re being exposed to loud sounds and music in more places and modern technology is getting louder. It’s frequently the younger age groups who have the highest amount of noise exposure in:
- Factories
- Bars, clubs, and concerts
- Gyms
- Shooting ranges
Also, many people are turning the volume of their music up to harmful levels and are using earbuds. And more individuals are managing pain with painkillers or using them recreationally. Prolonged, regular use of opiates, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin have also been associated with a higher risk of hearing loss.
How is Hearing Loss as a Health Crisis Being Dealt With by Society?
Hearing loss is getting the attention of local, national, and world organizations. They’re educating the public as a measure to slow this rising trend with the following:
- Research
- Prevention
- Risk factors
- Treatment options
These organizations also motivate individuals to:
- Recognize their degree of hearing loss risk
- Get their hearing tested sooner in their lives
- Wear their hearing aids
Any delays in these activities make the affect of hearing loss substantially worse.
Scientists, healthcare providers, and government organizations are seeking solutions. They’re also seeking ways to bring hearing-loss associated costs down. This will help improve accessibility to advanced hearing technologies that significantly enhance lives.
Comprehensive strategies are being created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations as well as scientists. They are integrating awareness, education, and health services to decrease the risk of hearing loss in underserved communities.
Local leaders are being educated on the health affect of noise by being given researched-based guidelines for communities. They describe what safe noise exposure is, and work with communities to decrease noise exposure for residents. They’re also pushing forward research into how hearing loss is raised with the use and abuse of opiates.
What You Can do?
Keep yourself informed because hearing loss is a public health problem. Share helpful information with others and take steps to slow the advancement of your own hearing loss.
If you suspect you might be dealing with hearing loss, get a hearing exam. If you discover you need hearing aids, make sure you wear them.
The main goal is to avoid all hearing loss. When you wear your hearing aids, you help people recognize they’re not alone. You’re bringing awareness about the problem of hearing loss in your community. Policies, attitudes, and actions will then be transformed by this awareness.