Our hearing is one of those things that we take for granted. Most people are born with the ability to hear, and we use it to navigate life and communicate with each other. But hearing loss and other issues can interfere with our abilities to do these things. Just like any other part of your health, this can in turn affect our quality of life.
While you don’t need to stay up at night worrying about it, it’s good to always be aware of your hearing and any potential problems. While hearing loss is inevitable for most people as they get older, there are sometimes things we can do to prevent it or slow it down.
Risk Factors For Hearing Loss
The most common risk factor for hearing loss is age. As people get older, they’re more likely to lose their hearing to an extent. If hearing loss runs in your family, then you’re even more likely to experience it when you age. This doesn’t mean you will completely lose your hearing, but many people have less sensitive hearing.
Other risk factors include wear and tear on your ears. If you’re regularly exposed to loud noises, it can damage the delicate hairs in your ears, which over time can cause hearing loss. People who work on construction sites or as soldiers, for example, can lose their hearing, as can musicians or people who listen to loud music.
Ear infections and blocked ears can also cause hearing loss. Sometimes this is temporary, but it can also cause permanent damage. Ear injuries might also cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.
Signs of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be surprisingly hard to notice, mainly because your brain is very good at masking it and compensating. You might not realise you’re losing your hearing until it gets more profound.
However, there are a few signs. Tinnitus is often a symptom associated with hearing loss. It’s characterized by ringing or buzzing in your ears and, in some cases, it can be difficult to deal with. You can do things like listening to quiet music or white noise for some tinnitus relief, or see a doctor.
One of the most common signs of hearing loss is actually other people. Your loved ones, who are the ones having to repeat themselves or speak louder to be heard, might realize that you’re losing your hearing before you do.
What to Do About Hearing Loss
If you are experiencing hearing loss, then think about what risk factors might cause them. You can use ear defenders if you work at a construction site to preserve your hearing, for example.
You can also see an ear doctor or an audiologist and get a hearing test. This way, you understand how much you’ve lost your hearing and, if it’s appropriate, you can get a hearing aid to restore some of your sense of hearing.
A doctor can also identify hearing loss caused by illnesses and, in some cases, treat it.
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