Do you annoy your children by turning the telly up loud? Regularly miss the noise of your phone? You could be one of the many Australians suffering loss of hearing.
Some 20 per cent of adults australia wide suffer from getting some sort of hearing loss.
For those 65 or older, that number rises to in two.
Some really common causes include genetic predisposition, expertise excessive noise levels, the ageing process and congenital infections.
The risks of hearing loss
Those with hearing loss are more likely to be in an accidental injury, as reported by new research.
A on-line massage therapy schools the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital says individuals that reported poor hearing are almost doubly likely to have some type of injury related to driving, work, leisure or sport.
Senior study author Dr Neil Bhattacharyya says people who hearing loss are probably not going to hear the symptoms of, for example, a motorcycle or motorcycle coming towards them.
“They could possibly be less likely to check on a car horn or someone yelling their way to ‘duck’ whether a baseball is headed their direction,” he notes.
“Hearing is one among the our vital senses and represents an important warning system,” agrees ear, nose and throat specialist Dr Peter Friedland, Professor of Otolaryngology along at the University of Western Australia.
Hearing loss hyperlinked to depression
Dr Friedland says work by UWA together with the Ear Science Institute Australia has shown us strong evidence that hearing difficulties is linked to cognitive loss together with social isolation and depression.
“There’s a considerable amount of anxiety that give not being able to hear properly, with continually required to ask individuals repeat themselves,” he admits that.
“People get weary of asking others to repeat themselves and thus won’t drop by parties or restaurants given that they can’t hear properly what friends or colleagues are talking about. Slowly but they withdraw from society.”
Why it’s important to test for hearing loss
The hearing specialist says while people typically quickly seek specialized help if their eyesight fails, they tend to ignore hearing difficulties.
“In Australia usually the man they’ve hearing loss needs between seven and Decade to act to it,” he said.
“Hearing loss is invisible as a result he gets away by using it. It’s the same for girl. They will smile and nod and pretend they’re hearing not many people understand it, at least for a bit.
But Dr Friedland says a great deal more not ignore hearing loss and advises individuals to have regular hearing checks and use hearing aids if required.
Signs of hearing loss
Some of the matters to look out for include:
“We all think we’re industrial strength,” says Dr Friedland.
“But this is actually the age of everything you describe as the ‘hearables generation’ consequently wearing assistive hearing aid devices should not be a problem in anyway and can produce a world of difference.”
How that will prevent hearing loss
University of Melbourne audiology lecturer Dr Caitlin Barr says research suggests about 40 per-cent of hearing difficulties is preventable.
Preventative measures include making sure that your headphones aren’t resulted in so loud that music will be heard leaking out when worn; and giving your ears a chance.
So if you attend a concert then spend all of the other weekend relaxing, and if you work in a venue where you’re exposed to loud sounds for prolonged periods ensure you wear hearing protection.
“Be conscious of your hearing dose across your whole lifespan and find your hearing checked during your annual health check-up,” she says.
“Our hearing may be a precious sense. It connects us to opportunity seekers and emotions, but make use of it in a way that means can enjoy hearing to your whole life.”
Written by Liz McGrath and Erin Miller.
