Seems as if we’re constantly trying to stay youthful. We spend a great number of hours trying everything we can to stay youthful. From specialized diets to fad workout programs to Botox to wrinkle creams. Still, with that amount of time and effort, the one thing that might actually work, we tend to avoid: using ear protection.
Most people most likely think of hearing loss as inevitable as we age. But it’s not that easy. By safeguarding your ears (and treating them with a bit of kindness along the way), you can help prevent harm and keep your hearing in good condition. And as time goes by, great hearing can have considerable anti-aging advantages.
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 someone is getting older. Pain in your joints is a perfect illustration of this. When your knees begin to bother you, you may relate that with “growing old”. But lifestyle has as much to do with this as age does.
The same goes for many kinds of hearing loss. As you age, damage accumulates. The accumulation of damage, in most situations, is the real cause of hearing deterioration. And that’s when things can begin to grow out of control. Several other signs of aging have been associated with hearing loss:
- In some cases, problems like insomnia and loss of memory, can be initiated by the mental strain of trying to hear. And that can make you feel like you’re getting old in a particularly intense way.
- Depression and anxiety have been shown to have a strong link to hearing loss.
- When hearing problems are undetected and untreated they can often hasten the onset of other mental health issues, including dementia.
- Neglected hearing loss could cause you to isolate yourself from family or friends.
What to do About Age Related Hearing Loss
When you battle the “signs of aging” in your ears, you’re really placing an emphasis on preventing damage. And it’s fortunate that we can achieve that using several methods. Here are a few things you can do:
- If you happen to work in a relatively noisy setting, wear hearing protection. With modern quality ear muffs, loud sounds are eliminated while you can still hear people speaking clearly.
- As much as you can, steer clear of loud noises. And when you can’t avoid high volume places, use hearing protection. So make sure you wear earplugs when you go to that rock concert.
- Become more aware. It isn’t only the painfully loud sounds that can result in harm. Moderate sound for longer periods of time can cause injury to your ears, too.
Your ears can be protected by all of these actions. 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 you even notice it can be achieved by getting regular tests. Even if your hearing is perfectly fine, a screening will still be capable of providing a useful baseline to compare against future results.
Keep Your Hearing Healthy With Hearing Aids
The world we live in can be loud. Despite your best effort to protect your hearing, you still might ultimately detect some hearing loss. If that’s the situation, it’s vital that you get help as quickly as you can. A good set of hearing aids can help counter some of the so-called age-related problems related to hearing impairments.
You could perhaps consider hearing aids as a facelift for your ears: something to allow your ears to work a little more youthfully. And dementia, depression, and other problems can be prevented. This example only goes so far since a facelift is cosmetic and hearing aids are essential. Wrinkle creams may help you look younger. But if you actually want to battle aging and feel a bit more youthful, your best bet is to protect your hearing and deal with your hearing loss.