When was the last time you had a hearing test? Doctors recommend doing this at least once a year, even if you don’t feel any problems. Why? Hearing problems spread rapidly among the population. Today, hearing loss is no longer a sign of older adults. More and more young people, teenagers and even children are suffering from this problem. But is hearing loss so dangerous? Is it worth worrying about?
Is hearing loss a serious problem?
Healthy people have no idea how much hearing loss affects a person’s life. Many people think it’s just hearing loss and nothing more. It doesn’t matter if I can’t hear something. I can always ask a friend to repeat what was said. That’s what everyone thinks until they get a diagnosis of hearing loss. And then the most unexpected thing begins.
It turns out that hearing loss is a serious problem that affects many aspects of life. The disorder changes a person’s life, dividing it into before and after. Many everyday tasks, which you didn’t even notice before, become difficult to accomplish. In addition, if left untreated, hearing loss gradually develops, causing other health problems as well.
There are also physiological difficulties. People with hearing loss, especially the elderly, complain of frequent dizziness. They are dangerous because they can cause them to fall. And a fall for an elderly person is always a danger of serious injury. Furthermore, people with hearing loss gradually lose their cognitive abilities. This is due to the way our brain works. Because of poor hearing, it is forced to expend a lot of energy on sound recognition, gradually reducing the functionality of other areas. Thus, the patent begins to have problems with memory, etc.
Physiological problems are not the only difficulties. Along with them come psychological disorders as well. A hearing-impaired person finds it more difficult to communicate and maintain a conversation, especially in noisy places and companies. As a result, he stops attending various events, choosing a reclusive life. The result of isolation from society is the development of psychological disorders, including depression.
Thus, hearing loss is a serious problem that cannot be ignored. It is not just frequent requests to repeat what is said. It’s a serious health impairment, which leads to other illnesses!
What will the treating audiologist not say?
So, if untreated, hearing loss causes physiological and psychological problems. But do hearing problems affect a person’s social behavior and the attitudes of others? Yes! Although many audiologists don’t stress about it. However, there are different situations in which a hearing-impaired person will feel uncomfortable, to say the least. Let’s look at some of the consequences of hearing loss that your doctor won’t tell you about.
A hearing-impaired person causes distrust in others
Many people are polar in their thinking, perceiving the world in black and white, without halftones. In the case of hearing loss, this is how it manifests itself. A person can either be completely deaf or have normal hearing. Intermediate states are not allowed. Therefore, others will perceive you as a faker who doesn’t make enough effort to hear correctly. This is a very common view among healthy people. Even your employer may think so. People just don’t believe that you can hear a word or a phrase.
Such stereotypes have nothing to do with reality. It gives the hearing impaired a keen sense of sheer injustice.
A hearing-impaired person irritates others
Bad hearing irritates others, even if the hearing-impaired person himself is not objectively responsible for the situation. For example, a colleague at work wants to get your attention. If the person doesno’t know about your hearing loss, he may think that you are neglecting to communicate with him. People also get very annoyed when they have to say the same thing over and over again. This applies even to people for whom your hearing loss is no secret. And this fact hurts the hearing-impaired person a lot, making him feel like a burden in communicating with others.
It’s hard to find a job for a hearing-impaired person
According to the U.S. National Center for Deafness, a hearing-impaired person is 22.5% more likely to be rejected for employment than a person with normal hearing. And nothing is surprising about that. There are many reasons why employers refuse to hire people with hearing loss, even if they are qualified for the position.
As cruel as it may sound, a hearing-impaired person is banally inconvenient for the employer. Even if they never admit it, they will make up some other reason for not hiring them. But, there is also the other side of the coin. Some hearing-impaired people deliberately hide their disability. But in the long run, this tactic is a loser. When the employer finds out about his mistake, he will try all kinds of tricks to fire the unwanted employee, creating unbearable working conditions.
What to do?
Hearing loss is the big problem. However, it is not the end of life. On the contrary! Many hearing-impaired people have returned to an active and happy life, forgetting their former problems. Hearing care has an effective and safe means to restore the ability to hear.
Can I recover lost hearing? No, it is not possible because of the characteristics of the hearing organs. But it is possible to hear and understand the sounds around you in any acoustic situation. Use hearing aids to do this!
Hearing aids are sophisticated medical devices that restore your ability to hear. Today you will find hundreds of models from reputable manufacturers in the hearing aid store. The devices vary in power, type, size, design, function, and features.
The first step to restoring your hearing is to schedule a consultation with an audiologist. The Hearing care professional will guide you on the road to recovery, from your first examination to the fitting and fitting of hearing aids!
So, don’t isolate yourself from society if you have been diagnosed with hearing loss. With the right treatment, you’ll quickly get back to your happy life. A life filled with the sounds and voices of loved ones!
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