Scientists believe 20-somethings with hearing aids will soon become more common as hearing loss is a public health issue.
When you think of extreme hearing loss, ideas of elderly people might come to mind. But over the last few years, there has been a surge in hearing loss with all age groups. Hearing loss obviously isn’t an aging problem it’s an increasing epidemic and the rising instances among all age groups demonstrates this.
Among adults 20 and up, researchers forecast that hearing loss will rise by 40%. This is viewed as a public health problem by the healthcare community. One out of five individuals is, according to John Hopkins medical research, having a difficult time communicating as a result of extreme hearing loss.
Let’s find out why experts are so alarmed and what’s causing an increase in hearing loss among all age groups.
Additional Health Problems Can be The Outcome of Hearing Loss
It’s a terrible thing to have to endure serious hearing loss. Day-to-day communication becomes difficult, aggravating, and exhausting. It can cause people to stop doing what they enjoy and disengage from family and friends. When you’re experiencing extreme hearing loss, it will be impossible to be active without seeking help.
Those who have neglected hearing loss suffer from more than diminished hearing. They’re also more likely to experience the following
- Anxiety
- Other acute health conditions
- Dementia
- Cognitive decline
- Depression
- Injuries from repeated falls
They also have trouble getting their everyday needs met and are more likely to have problems with personal relationships.
In combination with the impact on their personal lives, individuals going through hearing loss might face increased:
- Accident rates
- Needs for public support
- Healthcare expenses
- Insurance costs
- Disability rates
These factors demonstrate that hearing loss is a significant challenge we should deal with as a society.
Why Are Multiple Age Groups Experiencing Increased Hearing Loss?
There are a number of factors contributing to the current increase in hearing loss. The increased cases of some common conditions that cause hearing loss is one factor, including:
- Anxiety and unmanaged stress
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular disease
- Poor diet and a lack of regular exercise
More individuals are experiencing these and associated disorders at younger ages, which adds to added hearing loss.
Increased prevalence of hearing loss also has a great deal to do with lifestyle. In recreational and work areas particularly, it’s becoming more common to be exposed to loud sound. 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 level of noise exposure in:
- Gyms
- Factories
- Bars, clubs, and concerts
- Shooting ranges
Additionally, many individuals are choosing to wear earbuds and crank their music up to harmful volumes. And a larger number of individuals are now using painkillers, either to manage chronic pain or recreationally. Continued, regular use of opiates, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin have also been connected with a higher risk of hearing loss.
How is Hearing Loss as a Health Issue Being Dealt With by Society?
Local, national, and world organizations have recognized the issue. They’re educating the public as a measure to slow this growing trend with the following:
- Risk factors
- Research
- Treatment options
- Prevention
Individuals are being prompted by these organizations to:
- Use their hearing aids
- Get their hearing tested earlier in their lives
- Identify their level of hearing loss risk
Hearing loss will become severe with any delay in these measures.
Researchers, healthcare providers, and government organizations are trying to find solutions. Hearing aid associated costs are also being tackled. Advanced hearing technology will be increased and lives will be dramatically improved.
Comprehensive approaches are being created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations as well as scientists. Decreasing the danger of hearing loss among underserved communities is being addressed with health services, education, and awareness.
Among their efforts, they’ve developed research-based guidelines for communities, which help local leaders recognize the health impacts of noise. They work with communities to reduce resident’s noise exposure and instruct them on what safe levels of noise are. In addition, they’re facilitating research on how opiate use and abuse can increase the chance of hearing loss.
Can You do Anything?
Keep yourself informed as hearing loss is a public health issue. Take steps to slow the advancement of your own hearing loss and share helpful information with others.
Have your own hearing checked if you believe you are suffering from hearing loss. Make sure you get and use your hearing aids if you find that you need them.
The final goal is to prevent all hearing loss. When you wear your hearing aids, you help people see they’re not alone. You’re helping your community become more aware of the difficulties of hearing loss. Policies, attitudes, and actions will then be transformed by this awareness.