It seems like 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 the steady march of aging. Still, with that amount of time and effort, we have a tendency to avoid doing one simple thing that might actually work: safeguarding our ears.
Hearing loss is often one of those “signs of aging” that we frequently think of as inevitable. But it’s not that easy. By protecting your ears (and treating them with some kindness as you go), you can help avoid damage and keep your hearing in good condition. And great hearing can have significant anti-aging benefits as time goes by.
Aging And Hearing
When we discuss “aging” we don’t normally mean the actual passage of time. Instead, certain mental. emotional, or physical changes are indications that somebody is getting older. A good example of this is joint pain. You might relate sore knees, for instance, with “growing old”. But it’s not age alone that leads to the issue (your everyday 5-mile run might have something to do with it, too).
The same goes for many types of hearing loss. There’s an accumulation of damage as you age. The accumulation of damage, in most cases, is the actual cause of hearing deterioration. And it’s typically downhill from there. Several other signs of aging have been associated with hearing loss:
- Neglected hearing loss could cause you to isolate yourself from friends or family.
- Research has shown a strong connection between neglected hearing loss, anxiety, and depression.
- The onset of mental issues, including dementia, can sometimes be accelerated by ignored or unnoticed hearing loss.
- In some cases, the mental strain involved in attempting to hear can lead to issues like loss of memory or insomnia. And that can make you feel like you’re aging in a particularly intense way.
So How do I Combat Age-Related Hearing Loss?
When you combat the “signs of aging” in your ears, you’re actually placing a focus on controlling damage. And luckily, there are a few ways to achieve that. For instance, you can:
- Raise your awareness. It’s not only the painfully loud sounds that can lead to harm. Your hearing can also be damaged by moderate noise if you are exposed to it for long time periods.
- As much as possible, avoid loud noises. If you need to expose yourself to loud noise, wear hearing protection. So when you go see that concert with your favorite musician, be sure to use earplugs.
- If you happen to work in a rather noisy environment, wear ear protection. Modern ear muffs have incredible technology that can allow you to hear voices clearly while filtering out loud, damaging environmental sounds.
All of these actions will help safeguard your hearing. But if you want to keep your hearing in good condition you can do one more thing: schedule an appointment with us for a hearing exam. Catching hearing loss before it’s perceptible can be achieved by having regular tests. 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 Hearing Healthy by Wearing Hearing Aids
We live in a noisy world. In spite of your best effort to protect your hearing, you still may eventually notice some hearing loss. If that’s the situation, it’s vital that you get help as soon as you can. Some of the age related issues associated with hearing loss can be prevented with a quality pair of set aids.
You could perhaps think of hearing aids as a facelift for your ears: something to allow your ears to function a little more youthfully. And dementia, depression, and other issues can be avoided. This example only goes so far since a facelift is cosmetic and hearing aids are essential. You might look younger if you use wrinkle cream. But if you actually want to battle aging and feel somewhat more youthful, your best choice is to protect your hearing and treat your hearing loss.
