Aging Gracefully and with Great Health

3 Areas of Life Affected By Hearing Loss

5 December 2019 by For Content

According to the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), hearing loss affects 48 million Americans. Age-related hearing loss is especially common. One in three adults between the ages of 65 and 74 has trouble hearing. Even though hearing aids would seem like a simple remedy, some older people refuse to wear hearing aids. When hearing aids aren't used to correct hearing loss, it diminishes the quality of life.

If you have recently had a hearing test and an audiologist suggested hearing aids, it is highly recommended to wear them. If you don't wear hearing aids, hearing loss can likely affect these three areas of your life.

1. Your Safety

You might be surprised to realize how much you depend on your hearing to stay safe. This is especially true when you are driving. Defensive driving requires being visually and audibly aware of your surroundings. Horns honking or sirens blaring are an indication you need to pull over or get out of the way. If your passenger or GPS unit is trying to give you directions, it's important to hear them clearly. Besides on the road, hearing well is important inside your own home, especially in the event a fire alarm is going off.

2. Your Social Life

Hearing loss is a primary reason that aging adults become socially isolated. In fact, for every 10 decibels of hearing loss you experience, the odds of becoming socially isolated increases by 52%. If you have hearing loss, you might find yourself asking people to repeat themselves all the time. This is not only embarrassing for you, but it is frustrating for those you are socializing with. As a result, hearing loss will cause you to socialize less and less.

3. Your Mental Health

Hearing loss also takes a toll on your mental health. According to one study by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), more than 11 percent of people with hearing loss also suffer from depression. People with hearing loss are also more likely to have other emotional problems and could experience bouts of anger, frustration, and anxiety.

Oftentimes hearing loss goes undetected. If you notice any signs such as muffling of speech, difficulty understanding words, or you frequently turn up the volume, you may have some hearing loss. Get a hearing test and hearing aids if needed so these areas of your life aren't affected by hearing loss.

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