Hearing loss is presently a public health issue and scientists believe that it will become much more common for individuals in their 20’s to be using hearing aids.
When you consider severe hearing loss, ideas of elderly people may come to mind. But all age groups have had a recent increase in hearing loss during the last few years. Increased hearing loss in all ages further demonstrates that hearing loss isn’t an “aging problem,” but a growing crisis.
Among adults 20 and up, researchers forecast that hearing loss will increase by 40%. This is seen as a public health concern by the healthcare community. One out of five people is, according to John Hopkins medical research, having a hard time communicating because of severe hearing loss.
Hearing loss is increasing among all age groups and here is why experts think that is.
Hearing Loss Can Trigger Further Health Issues
Profound hearing loss is a terrible thing to cope with. Everyday communication becomes difficult, aggravating, and exhausting. Individuals can frequently disengage from their family and friends and stop doing the things they enjoy. If you don’t get help, it’s almost impossible to be active while going through significant hearing loss.
It’s not only diminished hearing that individuals with neglected hearing loss suffer from. They’re also more likely to experience the following
- Injuries from recurring falls
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Other severe health conditions
- Cognitive decline
- Dementia
They also have difficulty getting their basic needs met and are more likely to have difficulties with personal relationships.
In combination with the affect on their personal lives, people suffering from hearing loss might face increased:
- Insurance costs
- Disability rates
- Needs for public support
- Accident rates
- Healthcare expenses
We need to fight hearing loss as a society because as these factors indicate, hearing loss is a real obstacle.
What’s Causing Increased Hearing Loss Across Multiple Generations?
The current rise in hearing loss can be attributed to several factors. The increased cases of some common illnesses that trigger hearing loss is one factor, including:
- Poor diet and a lack of regular exercise
- Diabetes
- Anxiety and unmanaged stress
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular disease
These conditions and other related conditions are contributing to additional hearing loss because they’re happening to people at earlier ages.
Increased prevalence of hearing loss also has a lot to do with lifestyle. In work and recreational areas particularly, it’s becoming more common to be exposed to loud noise. Modern technology is frequently loud, and we’re being exposed to loud music and other sounds in more places. Young people who frequent the following places have the highest level of hearing loss:
- Factories
- Gyms
- Shooting ranges
- Bars, clubs, and concerts
Additionally, many people are choosing to wear earbuds and turn their music up to dangerous volumes. And a greater number of people are now making use of painkillers, either to treat 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 Society Responding to Hearing Loss as a Health Crisis?
Hearing loss is getting the attention of local, national, and world organizations. They’re trying to prevent this upward trend by educating the public on hearing loss such as:
- Risk factors
- Treatment options
- Research
- Prevention
Individuals are being urged by these organizations to:
- Have their hearing checked sooner in their lives
- Wear their hearing aids
- Recognize their level of hearing loss risk
Any delays in these actions make the impact of hearing loss significantly worse.
Solutions are being looked for by government organizations, healthcare providers, and researchers. They’re also pursuing ways to bring hearing-loss associated costs down. This will help increase accessibility to state-of-the-art hearing technologies that significantly improve lives.
Comprehensive strategies are being developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations as well as scientists. They are incorporating awareness, education, and health services to reduce the risk of hearing loss among underserved groups.
Among their efforts, they’ve developed research-based guidelines for communities, which help local leaders recognize the health affects of noise. They work with communities to minimize resident’s noise exposure and teach what safe levels of noise are. They’re also advancing research into how hearing loss is increased with the use and abuse of opiates.
What You Can do?
Hearing loss is a public health problem so stay informed. Share useful information with others and take action to slow the development of your own hearing loss.
Get your own hearing tested if you believe you are suffering from hearing loss. Make sure you get and use your hearing aids if you learn that you need them.
The final goal is to prevent all hearing loss. When you wear your hearing aids, you help people realize they’re not alone. You’re helping your community become more aware of the challenges of hearing loss. Policies, actions. and attitudes will then be changed by this awareness.
