Living with Freedom despite Hearing Loss
Given the fact that the hearing loss is the third most common health condition in America, it should not come as a surprise that you have a 50% likelihood of being afflicted with hearing loss if you are aged 75 and above. Hearing loss can give rise to several other health problems that can hamper your physical and psychological well being. Living with hearing loss can be difficult, since it robs you of your independence. Thankfully, there are ways in which you can continue to live a fruitful life despite having hearing loss.
You can begin gaining back your freedom from hearing loss by taking good care of your auditory health. This involves getting your hearing tested and getting hearing aids to rectify your hearing difficulty. This goes a long way in maintaining an active life while letting hearing loss take a back seat.
In case you do not have hearing loss, it is important to protect your hearing while you still can. Even if you do have a mild or moderate form of hearing loss, it is still important to protect the rest of your hearing so that it does not deteriorate any further. You can do this by engaging in auditory protection through the use of ear plugs, ear muffs, or by using noise-cancelling headphones. This prevents loud noises from damaging your hearing while keeping your ears safe from dust, dirt, and other foreign particles as well.
Many times, hearing loss is a temporary problem that can easily be fixed by simply having your ears cleaned. Too much earwax can block your hearing, so having your ears cleaned by a medical professional will eliminate excessive earwax and give you an opportunity to have your ears checked out by a medical professional for any signs of hearing loss.
Certain medications are known to be ototoxic, which means that they can cause hearing loss. Talk to your doctor if you feel like your medication could be causing your hearing loss to see if they can change the dosage or the medication.
Take ear infections seriously. Get your ear infections treated by a medical professional in a timely manner to prevent the possibility of developing permanent hearing loss. Fluid buildup, inflamed ear drums, or blocked ear canals can all occur due to ear infections that can be treated using anti biotic medication. Consult a medical professional if you have an ear infection that is affecting your hearing.
If you have hearing loss, you can always use other tools apart from hearing aids to supplement your hearing. These include assistive listening devices such as hearing loops or captioned phones and televisions. These can help you engage with your immediate environment and aid in more efficient communication and recreation. Hearing loss is irreversible, so take good care of your ears before it is too late. If you feel as though you or someone you love is suffering from hearing loss, consult an audiologist without further delay to prevent any more damage to your hearing.