Why Do Men and Women have Different Experiences with Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss can affect anyone, but one group of people are more likely to suffer from hearing loss than another.

Men have a higher chance of developing hearing loss than women. A study from 2008 by Johns Hopkins University discovered that the risk of hearing loss in men is five times more likely than it is for women. An individual’s age and race were taken into consideration as part of this data. The disparity among men and women typically starts around age 30, with white men exhibiting the highest pervasiveness of hearing loss.

Men with Work-related Hearing Loss

This distinction does not have anything to do with biological differences. Take into consideration the types of jobs that are commonly carried out by men. Most of those careers include daily exposure to loud noises from their equipment and surroundings.
By law, employees are required to wear protection for their ears when they are working in loud environments. Most men continue to disregard the health of their hearing and do not take necessary precautions.

Behavior Patterns can Risk Your Hearing

The average man and woman have the same level of hearing capacity when they are born. As a conclusion, it is evident that the differences in men and women’s behavioral patterns are what cause the disparity in their hearing loss. Smoking and health problems, like high blood pressure or heart disease, have been proven to cause loss of hearing. Men are more likely to have these issues, which explain the results of several studies. Also, regular users of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and painkillers, like aspirin, could induce early hearing loss for men under the age of 60.

Discussing the Stigma of Men with Hearing Loss

Even with the evidence of these risks, men are still less likely to get fitted for hearing aids than women. This might be due to the shame that some feel from having to use the hearing instruments. There should not be any shame in correcting your hearing loss, in the same way that those with vision problems use eyeglasses to help with their vision.
Early hearing loss detection and alleviation is known to help prevent or slow down early onset dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.  It can also protect you from falling, feeling anxiety and depression.

There are many different types of hearing loss. Some people are unable to hear high frequencies, and others tend to only hear muffled sounds or lower frequencies.  Men who suffer from hearing loss usually stop hearing high-frequency noises first, while women typically stop hearing low-frequencies first. As a result, men have difficulty comprehending words with consonant sounds that have higher pitches.  Women have difficulty comprehending deep, round sounds in vowels. This is an informative reason as to why many couples have communication problems!

Reach Out for Help

Men with hearing loss have an opportunity to change the course of their hearing health. If you, or a loved one, have noticed a decline in your hearing capabilities please contact one of our hearing instrument specialists at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation.

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