Everybody wants to stay young for as long as they can. From wrinkle creams to Botox to special diets to spin class, we spend countless hours every day doing what we can to slow the steady march of aging. Still, with that amount of time and effort, the one thing that could actually work, we tend to avoid: using ear protection.
Many people probably think of hearing loss as inevitable as we get older. But it’s not as simple as that. By protecting 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 the years go on, strong hearing can have significant anti-aging rewards.
Aging And Hearing
The actual passing of time is not usually what we are making reference to when we speak of aging. Instead, specific emotional, mental, and physical changes are signs that someone is getting older. Joint pain is a great example of this. You might relate sore knees, for example, with “growing old”. But it’s not age alone that causes the problem (your everyday 5-mile run may have something to do with it, too).
The same is true of many types of hearing loss. As you get older, damage builds up. The build-up of damage, in most cases, is the actual cause of hearing deterioration. And that’s when the problems can begin to snowball. Neglected hearing loss has been linked to several other signs of aging:
- The onset of mental issues, including dementia, can often be hastened by neglected or undetected hearing loss.
- Research has shown a strong connection between neglected hearing loss, depression, and anxiety.
- Untreated hearing loss might cause you to self-isolate from family or friends.
- Sometimes, problems like insomnia and memory loss, can be triggered by the mental strain of attempting to hear. And, in an especially profound way, that can cause you to feel like you are getting old.
So How do I Fight Age-Related Hearing Loss?
When you battle the “signs of aging” in your ears, you’re actually placing an emphasis on controlling damage. And thankfully, there are a few ways to accomplish that. For example, you can:
- Increase your awareness. It’s not just the painfully loud sounds that can cause harm. Your hearing can also be injured by moderate noise if you are exposed to it for long time periods.
- Wear ear protection to work if your job exposes you to loud noise. Modern ear muffs have incredible technology that can allow you to hear voices clearly while eliminating loud, harmful environmental sounds.
- Steer clear of loud noises as much as possible. If you have to expose yourself to loud noise, use hearing protection. So when you go to that concert with your favorite musician, be certain to use earplugs.
All of these steps will help safeguard your ears. But there’s one more step you can take to keep your hearing in fighting condition: schedule an appointment with us for a hearing test. Making sure you get hearing tests regularly can help you catch hearing loss before it’s even noticeable. You should still have a screening even if your hearing is normal so that you can have a standard to compare against in the future.
Keep Your Hearing Healthy With Hearing Aids
The world we live in can be loud. Your ability to protect against damage is crucial, but you may eventually detect some hearing loss even with your best efforts. If that’s the situation, it’s vital that you seek help as quickly as you can. Some of the age related concerns associated with hearing loss can be prevented with a quality pair of set aids.
Hearing aids can assist your hearing to function more youthfully, kind 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 essential. You might look younger if you use wrinkle cream. But your best choice, if want to feel younger, is to take care of your hearing loss and protect your ears.