Inability to hear is not the only effect of hearing loss, it can also have a significant impact on your overall life. Losing your hearing can get in the way of everyday pursuits and can strain relationships.
A study conducted by AARP found that quality of life is more seriously impacted by hearing loss than:
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Obesity
The loss of hearing, when left untreated, can really have a negative effect on your lifestyle, yet there are many people who don’t get help. Researchers have found that many people experiencing hearing loss are still worried about a perceived stigma attached to it. If others find out they have hearing loss, people are afraid they will be treated differently. This perception can distort how they view themselves whether they are 8 or 80.
Your Not The Only One
Though it can impact people of every age group, it is true that as lifespans grow longer there are more instances of hearing loss. The World Health Organization reports that over 1.1 billion people are in danger of hearing loss and the perceived perceptions that come with it, many of them young adults. As a matter of fact, hearing loss is one of the most widespread health issues adults deal with. The reluctance to get help persists while the number of people with hearing loss grows. How is one’s overall health affected?
What is The Perception of Hearing Loss?
By definition, stigma is a brand that marks somebody as inferior and that pretty much tells the story. Feeling older, less healthy, and less able are concerns that a lot of people with hearing loss have.
Historically, there is some foundation for this worry. A 2010 study revealed when people suffer from hearing loss they were not as well accepted. But the data from this research is almost 10 years old. As hearing loss becomes more common, this perception is improving. Celebrities visibly wear hearing aids and the devices are becoming more sophisticated, stylish, and fun. Research reveals that some other age related health issues, such as dementia, may be slowed or even prevented by seeking treatment. This is changing peoples mind about hearing loss and also their hearts. Some people still won’t get help despite this research.
What Difference Does it Make?
Don’t allow your anxiety about negative perception stop you from seeking treatment or you may suffer long-term health consequences. More people get colonoscopies than hearing tests according to an AARP survey. Not getting a hearing exam because you refuse to acknowledge your hearing loss will affect your health as you get older.
Consequences of Undiagnosed or Untreated Hearing Loss
These bodily consequences of not dealing with your hearing loss will affect your overall health;
Fatigue
In life, everything is more challenging if you are struggling to hear. Just attempting to hear conversations and normal sounds is a difficult task. Because you can’t hear traffic or a person coming up behind you, you need to put more effort into staying safe too. Just working hard to hear common sounds can lead to chronic fatigue.
Migraines
You can suffer from headaches and migraines if you have too much fear and tension. You might not realize there is a connection, but studies have demonstrated a link between migraines and certain types of hearing loss. Your brain needs to compensate for what you can’t hear, so even if you don’t normally suffer from migraines, the extra effort can give you a headache.
Mental Health
You could also be facing mental health concerns as a result of your untreated hearing loss such as depression and social anxiety. Hearing loss can lead to dementia and often results in social isolation. These challenges, in turn, often produce physical symptoms like reduced energy levels or moodiness.
It is Possible to Overcome The Negative Perception of Hearing Loss
Surmounting these negative perceptions begins with getting help. If you are losing your hearing, it is treatable. Your only causing your own suffering by not getting help.
There might not even be any reason to stress since not all loss of hearing is permanent. common earwax buildup can result in hearing loss, but you can’t be sure unless you make an appointment to have your hearing checked.
If it turns out you do have hearing loss, you need to deal with it. You can get hearing aids in all shapes and sizes these days. More inconspicuous styles are available if you feel worried about people knowing you have hearing loss.
Above all, prove them wrong. You can wear your hearing aids with confidence because when you can hear, you will be just as active and healthy as anyone else. The perception of people with hearing loss will be changed if you act like this. Increase awareness and keep healthy by not surrendering to negative perceptions.
Hearing loss is not a personal weakness it’s a medical condition. So see a hearing professional for a hearing exam right away.