Hearing Loss: The Big Health Concern Affecting Modern Professionals

You rarely associate certain health problems with the younger generation, and yet modern professionals are at risk of one significant issue: poor hearing health. hearing loss

It’s something that used to be confined to the much older generation of people. You would think of people in their 60s and above as those in need of hearing aids or being hard of hearing. While this part of the population is still affected by hearing loss, it’s becoming more and more common in people in their 20s-40s. 

hearing loss

Why is this happening, what are the health concerns related to hearing loss, and what can you do about it? This isn’t a topic that’s talked about enough, so let’s get down to business and answer all of those questions. 

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Why Younger People Suffer From Hearing Loss

Believe it or not but as many as 19% of people in their 20s exhibit the signs of hearing loss. That’s coming up to a fifth of the demographic – but why is this happening? Most experts believe it’s down to the younger generation being more exposed to loud noises. The biggest culprit? Your smartphone. It’s far too common to walk around with headphones in and music blaring from your smartphone at a much louder level than recommended. Younger people do this for hours a day, hence the rise in hearing loss. 

hearing loss

Other factors may come into play – like younger people spending more time in noisy environments, like concerts or underground metro stations. Nevertheless it all comes back to this overexposure to loud noises in one way or another. 

How To Help Hearing Loss

Firstly, visit a hearing health professional or audiologist to undergo a hearing health examination. This will help you know if you suffer from hearing loss. If that’s the case, then the best treatment involves hearing aids. Ironically, this is also why so many young people have bad hearing: they don’t want to get hearing aids to help with the problem. 

There’s a stigma surrounding hearing aids that’s incredibly outdated. You assume you have to walk around with a massive Bluetooth-style headset over your ears, but the next generation of hearing aid tech produces micro hearing aids that are customized to suit your daily lifestyle. You can wear them discreetly and get help hearing in various environments. 

hearing loss

Hearing aids “treat” hearing loss by assisting all the different parts of your ear. While you can’t reverse bad hearing, you can stop it from getting a lot worse. 

The Health Concerns Of Hearing Loss

Losing your hearing won’t impact your physical health, but it does have a huge effect on your mental health. Being unable to hear properly means you always ask people to repeat themselves, and this takes a significant toll. 

You start feeling self-conscious in almost every conversation and shy away from human interactions. There’s a very worrying link between hearing loss and depression, which is why this health issue should be taken far more seriously than it is – especially in young people. 

hearing loss

Protect your hearing health at all costs. Turn down the volume on your headphones, wear hearing protection in loud environments, and don’t be afraid to go for semi-regular checkups. Delaying hearing loss is the best approach to improving your life and feeling mentally positive. And if you do suffer from hearing loss, then get hearing aids so you can actually hear better again. They’re not as obvious as you think, and they will let you enter social situations with more confidence.