Seems as if we’re constantly attempting to stay youthful. From gym memberships to Botox to wrinkle cream to special diets, we spend a great number of hours every day doing what we can to slow down the aging process. Still, with that amount of time and effort, the one thing that may actually work, we often avoid: protecting our ears.
Hearing impairment is often one of those “signs of aging” that we tend to consider to be inevitable. But it’s not that easy. By safeguarding your ears (and treating them with some kindness as you go), you can help prevent harm and keep your hearing in great shape. And as the years go on, great hearing can have considerable anti-aging rewards.
Aging And Hearing
The actual passing of time is not usually what we are describing when we speak of aging. Instead, certain mental. emotional, or physical changes are indications that someone is getting older. Joint pain is a perfect illustration of this. When your knees start to hurt, you might associate that with “growing old”. But it’s not age by itself that causes the issue (your daily 5-mile run might have something to do with it, also).
Many types of hearing loss fall under this category. There’s a build-up of damage as you grow older. And in most circumstances, it’s the accumulation of damage that leads to the actual hearing deterioration. And that’s when things can start to grow out of control. A number of other indications of aging have been associated with hearing loss:
- Sometimes, issues such as insomnia and loss of memory, can be initiated by the mental strain of trying to hear. And that can make you feel like you’re getting old in an especially profound way.
- The onset of mental issues, including dementia, can sometimes be hastened by ignored or unnoticed hearing loss.
- Self isolation from friends and family can be the outcome of untreated hearing loss.
- Studies have shown a strong connection between untreated hearing loss, depression, and anxiety.
What to do About Age Related Hearing Loss
When you combat the “signs of aging” in your ears, you’re really placing a focus on controlling damage. And fortunately, there are quite a few ways to achieve that. For example, you can:
- As much as possible, steer clear of loud noises. If you need to expose yourself to loud noise, use hearing protection. So when you go to that concert with your favorite musician, be certain to use earplugs.
- Wear hearing protection to work if your job exposes you to loud noise. Modern ear muffs have incredible technology that can allow you to hear voices clearly while eliminating loud, harmful environmental sounds.
- Become more aware. It isn’t just the painfully loud noises that can result in harm. Your ears can also be injured by moderate noise if you are exposed to it for long periods of time.
Your ears can be safeguarded by all of these actions. But there’s one more action you can take to keep your hearing in fighting shape: come see us for a hearing examination. Catching hearing loss before you even notice it can be accomplished by getting regular examinations. Even if your hearing is perfectly fine, a screening will still be able to provide a useful baseline to compare against future results.
Keep Your Ears Healthy by Wearing Hearing Aids
We live in a loud world. Even with your best effort to take care of your hearing, you still might ultimately notice some hearing loss. You should seek out help right away if you do notice any symptoms of hearing loss. A good set of hearing aids can help prevent some of the so-called age-related issues related to hearing impairments.
Hearing aids can assist your hearing to function more youthfully, sort of like a facelift for your ears. And dementia, depression, and other problems can be prevented. This analogy only goes so far since a facelift is cosmetic and hearing aids are necessary. Wrinkle creams might help you look younger. But if you actually want to combat aging and feel somewhat more youthful, your best choice is to safeguard your hearing and take care of your hearing loss.