Ways Hearing Loss Affects Young People

Hearing loss doesn’t just happen to older people; that’s a myth. It’s not just the effects of the aging process that lend itself to hearing loss. Young people and children in increasing numbers experience hearing loss, too.

Hearing loss causes

Some form of hearing loss affects about one out of five teenagers. Today, there is a huge increase of about 30 percent of teenagers with hearing loss compared to the 1990s. Sadly, those numbers will probably continue to grow. One point one billion individuals between the ages of 12 and 35 years old are tremendously subject to hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Why is this happening? Even though side effects of illnesses and genetics are two of the usual culprits out of several, noise-induced hearing loss is the biggest reason for it in teenagers. Wearing earbuds and headphones too much contribute largely to the problem, today. There are plenty of warnings about the detriments of listening to loud music all the time, but these cautions usually go unheeded. But is not only listening devices that contribute to hearing loss in teenagers. Loud bars and concerts or playing music in a band are also factors. Conversely, obesity in young people is another problem connected to hearing loss, according a study at Columbia University, which found that hearing in 15.16 percent of obese young people, compared to 7.89 non-obese peers, experienced hearing difficulties.

Ways to protect your hearing

Sixty percent of of childhood hearing loss is preventable, according to the WHO study. The way to prevent the hearing loss is to not put yourself in excessively loud situations too often. When listening to music through earbuds or headphones, use the 60/60 rule: put the volume at 60 percent and only listen for 60 minutes per day. You can also wear hearing protection at concerts or in other loud situations.

With obesity, lifestyle plays a major role. Hearing health can be protected by weight loss in a healthy manner. Staying active and eating healthy foods are the best ways to combat obesity and hearing loss. However, remember to have regular hearing tests as a prevention, as well.

Now is the time to act. Contact a hearing instrument specialist at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a hearing test and, if needed, treatment options.

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