Are you interested in better understanding your hearing loss and specific hearing needs?
Pure Sound Hearing is ready to guide you through your progress with better hearing because staying connected with loved ones and people you need to interact with is necessary. Hearing Loss Facts Experiencing hearing loss means that you can no longer hear certain sounds. You may be able to hear clearly in quiet settings, but louder ones are more challenging. Most people lose the ability to hear high-pitched sounds. The sounds of birds singing or children laughing may be hard to hear or not heard at all. For some people, hearing loss can suddenly happen due to noise exposure, medication side effects, etc. For most people, it’s a barely noticeable progression until they can no longer hear something or someone. Causes of Hearing Loss There are numerous causes of hearing loss. Here are some of the most common:
The type of hearing loss and the severity depends on which part of the ear the impairment occurs in. The Repercussions of Neglecting Hearing Loss Failing to receive a hearing test and treatment can worsen the effects of hearing loss. That includes depression due to social isolation. When a person can’t hear well or has a tough time communicating with others, this can lead them to give up on their social life. You may hear and then misinterpret instructions. This might happen in school, the workplace, medical appointments, or any other instance where hearing instructions is crucial. The inability to hear if there’s something wrong with your car engine/tires or not hearing emergency sirens are other repercussions of hearing loss. It puts you and others who share the road with you in danger. Ensure that your car inspections are up-to-date, and follow these driving safety tips. If you or a loved one notice hearing loss, please contact Pure Sound Hearing in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. We have three office locations in Elizabethtown, Lititz, and Strasburg. Research has confirmed that there is an evident relationship between depression and hearing loss. Unfortunately, both of these conditions are often overlooked and untreated by primary healthcare professionals. It’s important to highlight this dilemma to improve the overall health of millions of people.
The Link Between Depression and Hearing Loss Many people who have hearing loss face difficulties with communication. This can cause a lot of stress, fatigue, and social isolation. Older adults are at a higher risk of depression caused by social isolation. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), over 11 percent of individuals who experience hearing loss also have depression, compared to 5 percent of the general population. Depression was shown to be common among people between the ages of 18 and 69. There had been a considerable link between moderate to severe depression and hearing loss. The study had not confirmed the cause and effect of this affiliation. Hearing loss is the third leading condition found in elderly adults. Presbycusis is the most prevalent type of hearing loss related to aging. It happens very gradually, so it’s difficult for a person to detect unless they get a hearing test. It is described as losing the highest frequency consonant sounds and having difficulty understanding speech when there is background noise. About 25 to 40 percent of adults over 65 years of age experience hearing loss. For most people in that age group, hearing loss tends to go undetected and untreated. This could be because just 9 percent of general healthcare practitioners recommend that their older patients receive a hearing test. Even when people do get tested, just 25 percent of those with treatable hearing loss take the initiative to get hearing aids. What are the signs of Hearing Loss and Depression? It is recommended that you get a routine hearing test, and familiarize yourself with symptoms of depression. Symptoms that can be mistaken for signs of aging - such as difficulty with following along in a conversation, social isolation, or even feelings of paranoia - may be caused by hearing loss. Some signs of depression, like feeling sad and hopeless are more obvious; whereas feeling fatigued, struggling with concentration, experiencing a loss of appetite, irritability, and losing interest in your favorite hobbies can disrupt your daily life and how you interact with others. Your family healthcare provider, family, and friends should also observe symptoms of depression. These symptoms make it very important to regularly get your hearing tested. Typical signs of hearing loss are turning up the volume level on the TV or computer, to the point where others ask to turn it down, constantly asking others to repeat themselves, or experiencing difficulty with following along during conversations. The latest research may allow healthcare providers to become more mindful of depression symptoms in patients with hearing loss or refer those who have these symptoms to get additional treatment. Proper treatment could help these individuals acknowledge their feelings, take action, and become more socially engaged with others to improve their overall health. Hearing tests can change how depression is treated. For someone with depression that is caused by or worsens due to underlying hearing loss, a hearing test should be taken before prescribing antidepressants. This will help patients avoid unnecessary medications. There have been some medications that are known to cause hearing loss, which can further damage your mental health. How to Discuss Hearing Loss It probably won’t be easy to bring up the topic of hearing loss with an older adult. Many do not appreciate being told what to do, because of the switch in roles of authority. It may be more effective to structure the discussion in a way that highlights the benefits of getting treatment. For example, they may find that it’s easier to participate in conversations and become more independent by not relying on others to repeat themselves or relay something that was said. Remind them that there have been considerable advancements in hearing aid technology. There are so many more benefits such as blocking out distracting background noise so that you may focus on a conversation. If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss, don’t wait to seek treatment. Contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. The earlier you seek treatment, the better chance you will have to keep the hearing abilities that you still possess. A study by Canadian scientists and The Lancet revealed that hearing loss sometimes occurs alongside other health conditions. It can raise the risks of dementia, falls, hospitalizations/emergencies, long-term care, and detrimental effects from drugs.
Researchers believe dealing with health problems requires more and improved care for those with hearing issues. Patients with Hearing Loss have a Higher Risk of not recovering from Medical Treatment Provided The objective of the Canadian researchers was to study the connection between hearing loss and various clinical outcomes in more than 4.7 million adults who lived in Alberta, Canada, from April 2004 to March 2019. Within this population, 152,766 people (3.2%) had hearing loss. The study found that people with hearing loss were more likely to have unfavorable clinical outcomes than people who didn’t have hearing problems. They had more days spent in the hospital, were more likely to fall, had adverse reactions from drugs, and had emergency visits. People with Hearing Loss are at more risk of the following:
In Canada, the study suggests that approximately 15,631 people with hearing loss need to be placed in different long-term care facilities each year. Of those listed, 1,023 were hearing loss-related. There is an estimate of new cases of dementia: 14,959 and 4,350. For strokes or transient ischemic attacks, there were about 11,582 and 2,242. The results indicate higher rates of comorbidity for people who experienced hearing loss and more risk of detrimental consequences. This additional risk may worsen communication abilities among patients and healthcare providers. For instance, the continuous and heightened risk of long-term care might indicate that additional support is needed for people with hearing problems so that they may live independently. More investment, research, and organized resolutions to revamp the healthcare and outcomes for anyone with hearing loss are needed. By addressing the hardships of comorbidities and enforcing preventative measures, the quality of life for patients can significantly improve. If you or a loved one experiences hearing loss, contact Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation. |
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