Seems like we’re always attempting to stay young. From wrinkle creams to Botox to special diets to spin class, we spend a great number of hours every day doing what we can to slow the steady march of aging. And yet, even with all that energy (and all those hours), the one thing that may actually work, we tend to avoid: using ear protection.
Hearing loss is often one of those “signs of aging” that we frequently 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 time goes by, strong hearing can have significant anti-aging benefits.
Aging And Hearing
When we discuss “aging” we don’t usually mean the actual passing of time. Instead, specific mental. emotional, or physical changes are signs that a person is getting older. A perfect example of this is joint pain. When your knees start to bother you, you might associate that with “growing old”. But it’s not age by itself that causes the issue (your everyday 5-mile run could have something to do with it, too).
The same goes for many types of hearing loss. There’s an accumulation of damage as you get older. And in most cases, it’s the build-up of damage that leads to the actual hearing degeneration. And that’s when the problems can start to snowball. Untreated hearing loss has been associated with a number of other indications of aging:
- The onset of mental issues, including dementia, can sometimes be accelerated by ignored or unnoticed hearing loss.
- Neglected hearing loss could cause you to isolate yourself from friends or family.
- Studies have shown a strong link between untreated hearing loss, depression, and anxiety.
- In some situations, the mental strain associated with attempting to hear can lead to problems such as memory loss or insomnia. And that can make you feel like you’re aging in an especially profound way.
So How do I Combat Age-Related Hearing Loss?
When you battle the “signs of aging” in your ears, you’re actually placing a focus on controlling damage. And it’s fortunate that we can achieve that in a number of ways. Here are some things you can do:
- Increase your awareness. It’s not only the painfully loud noises that can cause 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 have to expose yourself to loud noise, use hearing protection. So when you go to that concert with your favorite band, be certain to use earplugs.
- Wear ear protection to work if your job exposes you to loud noise. Modern ear muffs have amazing technology that can let you hear voices with clarity while filtering out loud, damaging environmental sounds.
Your ears can be safeguarded by all of these actions. But in order to keep your hearing in good condition you can do one more thing: come see us for a hearing exam. Catching hearing loss before it’s perceptible can be accomplished by having regular screenings. Even if your hearing is perfectly fine, an exam will still be capable of providing a useful baseline to compare against future results.
Wear Hearing Aids to Keep Your Ears Healthy
The world we live in can be loud. Even with your best effort to take care of your hearing, you still might ultimately detect some hearing loss. If that’s the situation, it’s essential that you get help as quickly as you can. Some of the age related problems related to hearing loss can be prevented with a quality pair of set aids.
Hearing aids can help your ears function more youthfully, sort of like a facelift for your ears. And that can help keep depression, dementia, and other issues from increasing. This analogy 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 deal with your hearing loss and safeguard your ears.