It seems as if we’re always trying to stay youthful. We spend a great number of hours undertaking everything we can to stay youthful. From special diets to fad workout programs to Botox to wrinkle creams. And yet, even with all that energy (and all those hours), we tend to neglect doing one simple thing that could actually work: protecting our ears.
Hearing loss is often one of those “signs of aging” that we tend to think of as inevitable. But it’s not that simple. By protecting your ears (and treating them with a bit of kindness as you go), you can help avoid harm and keep your hearing in great shape. And as time goes by, great hearing can have considerable anti-aging advantages.
Aging And Hearing
The actual passage 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. A good example of this is joint pain. You might relate sore knees, for example, with “growing old”. But it’s not age by itself that causes the problem (your everyday 5-mile run might have something to do with it, too).
The same goes for many kinds of hearing loss. There’s a build-up of damage as you grow older. And in most situations, it’s the build-up of damage that causes the actual hearing degeneration. And that’s when things can begin to snowball. Untreated hearing loss has been associated with a number of other indications of aging:
- Occasionally, issues such as insomnia and memory loss, can be triggered by the cognitive strain of trying to hear. And, in a particularly intense way, that can make you feel like you are aging.
- When hearing problems are unnoticed and untreated they can sometimes accelerate the onset of other mental health problems, including dementia.
- Research has shown a robust connection between untreated hearing loss, anxiety, and depression.
- Self isolation from family and friends can be the outcome of neglected hearing loss.
So How do I Overcome Age-Related Hearing Loss?
When you fight the “signs of aging” in your ears, you’re actually placing an emphasis on controlling damage. And thankfully, there are a few ways to achieve that. Here are some things you can do:
- Wear hearing protection to work if your job exposes you to loud noise. With modern high quality ear muffs, loud noises are eliminated while voices are still able to be heard with clarity.
- Increase your awareness. You can still suffer harm to your hearing even if sounds are not painfully loud. Moderate noise for longer durations can cause harm to your ears, too.
- As much as you can, avoid loud noises. If you have to expose yourself to loud noise, wear hearing protection. So make sure you wear earplugs when you go to that rock concert.
Your ears can be protected by all of these steps. But there’s one more action you can take to keep your ears in fighting shape: make an appointment with us for a hearing exam. Catching hearing loss before it’s perceptible can be achieved by having regular examinations. You should still get a screening even if your hearing is normal so that you can have a baseline to compare against in the future.
Wear Hearing Aids to Keep Your Ears Healthy
We live in a noisy world. Your ability to prevent damage is critical, but you might eventually detect some hearing loss even with your best efforts. If that’s the case, it’s essential that you seek help as quickly as you can. A good pair of hearing aids can help counter some of the so-called age-related issues related to hearing impairments.
Hearing aids can help your ears function more youthfully, sort of like a facelift for your ears. And dementia, depression, and other problems can be avoided. This example only goes so far since a facelift is cosmetic and hearing aids are necessary. Wrinkle creams may help you look younger. But your best bet, if want to feel younger, is to take care of your hearing loss and protect your hearing.