Scientists think that 20-somethings who wear hearing aids will soon become more prevalent as hearing loss is a public health concern.
The majority of individuals think of the elderly when they consider severe hearing loss. But all age groups have had a recent rise in hearing loss over the past few years. Hearing loss clearly isn’t an aging problem it’s an increasing epidemic and the rising cases among all age groups illustrates this.
Among adults 20 and older, scientists forecast that hearing loss will increase by 40%. This is viewed as a public health problem by the healthcare community. According to John Hopkins medical researchers, one in five people is already experiencing hearing loss so severe it makes communication challenging.
Hearing loss is rising amongst all age groups and here is why researchers think that is.
Additional Health Issues Can be The Consequence of Hearing Loss
It’s an awful thing to have to go through serious hearing loss. Normal communication becomes difficult, aggravating, and fatiguing. It can cause people to stop doing what they love and disengage from family and friends. If you don’t seek help, it’s nearly impossible to be active while suffering from severe hearing loss.
People with neglected hearing loss are afflicted by more than diminished hearing. They’re also more likely to develop the following
- Anxiety
- Injuries from recurring falls
- Depression
- Cognitive decline
- Other severe health problems
- Dementia
They also have difficulty getting their everyday needs met and are more likely to have difficulties with personal relationships.
Individuals who suffer from hearing loss are affected in their personal lives and could also have increased:
- Insurance rates
- Needs for public assistance
- Disability rates
- Healthcare expenses
- Accident rates
These factors indicate that hearing loss is a major obstacle we should deal with as a society.
What’s Contributing to Increased Hearing Loss Across All Generations?
There are several factors causing the current rise in hearing loss. One factor is the increased incidence of common conditions that can lead to hearing loss, such as:
- Poor diet and a lack of regular exercise
- High blood pressure
- Anxiety and unmanaged stress
- Cardiovascular disease
- Obesity
- Diabetes
More individuals are suffering from these and associated disorders at earlier ages, which leads to additional hearing loss.
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 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 amount of noise exposure in:
- Gyms
- Bars, clubs, and concerts
- Shooting ranges
- Factories
Additionally, many individuals are choosing to use earbuds and crank their music up to dangerous levels. And a greater number of individuals are now using painkillers, either to treat chronic pain or recreationally. Opiates, ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen will raise your risk of hearing loss especially if taken over a extended time periods.
How is Hearing Loss as a Health Crisis Being Dealt With by Society?
Hearing loss is getting the attention of local, national, and world organizations. They’re trying to end this upward trend by educating the public on hearing loss such as:
- Treatment options
- Prevention
- Research
- Risk factors
Individuals are being urged by these organizations to:
- Have their hearing checked sooner in their lives
- Wear their hearing aids
- Identify their level of hearing loss risk
Hearing loss will worsen with any delay in these actions.
Solutions are being looked for by government organizations, healthcare providers, and researchers. They’re also seeking ways to bring hearing-loss related costs down. This will help improve accessibility to advanced hearing technologies that greatly improve lives.
Broad approaches are being developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations as well as scientists. They are incorporating education, awareness, and health services to decrease the risk of hearing loss among underserved groups.
Local leaders are being made aware of the health impact of noise by being given researched-based guidelines for communities. They explain what safe noise exposure is, and help communities reduce noise exposure for residents. In addition, they’re furthering research on how opiate use and abuse can increase the danger of hearing loss.
Can You do Anything?
Hearing loss is a public health problem so keep yourself informed. Take measures to slow the progression of your own hearing loss and share useful information with other people.
If you believe you might be suffering from hearing loss, get a hearing exam. If you discover you need hearing aids, make sure you wear them.
Avoiding hearing loss is the main goal. You’re helping others who are dealing with hearing loss understand that they’re not alone when you wear your hearing aids. You’re helping your community become more aware of the challenges of hearing loss. Policies, attitudes, and actions will then be transformed by this awareness.