Don’t be in Denial about Hearing Loss

How much of an issue is hearing loss for you?

There are many reasons why someone with hearing loss turns their back on the problem and doesn’t take action. However, many of those reasons are flawed, and a hearing test with a qualified audiologist could go a long way to allaying those concerns and correct the problem.

A common misconception is that hearing loss is a sign of ageing, since a lot of older people are affected. This myth needs busting right away because it is untrue, and perpetuating this misinformation is harmful. It is a fact that only 34% of people in the US with hearing loss are over 64. The flip side is that two-thirds of people just like you who have hearing issues are young or middle-aged. If you really want to drill down into the statistics, there are over a million hard-of-hearing people who are school-aged. Puts a different perspective on things, doesn’t it?

Again, if you happen to fall into that older age group you may think that hearing loss is inevitable and something to be lived with. However, this isn’t a helpful way of looking at things. You could use the same argument to say that diabetics have high blood sugar or overweight people are prone to high blood pressure. While these statements are true, it is totally incorrect to believe inaction is an appropriate option. Hearing loss is not something to be tolerated or suffered; it is a medical condition that is treatable just like so many other conditions.

Another common reason for inaction is thinking that wearing a hearing aid is prematurely ageing and will make you look older. Firstly, have you considered how untreated hearing loss makes you appear to others? You may think you hide the condition well by intuitive nodding during a conversation, however it’s unlikely you get things right all the time.

When you don’t get the joke because you misheard, agree in the wrong place, or lag behind in the conversation, these are all fairly obvious signs that you aren’t hearing well. When you think about this more deeply, you realize it impacts your ability to hold your end in an argument or debate a contentious topic of the day. The effects are altogether more impactful than you suppose. And if that doesn’t convince you, then what about the small daily sacrifices such as not fully appreciating a favorite piece of music or hearing birdsong?

Ask yourself how much of a relief it would be to improve your hearing. The first step is to call an audiologist’s office to book an appointment. When a hearing test confirms the nature of your problem, there are many discrete hearing aids that can remedy the situation without making it obvious that you are wearing one.