Why Wait to Get Help With Hearing Loss?
As the population in Canada continues to age at a steady pace, the increase of chronic health problems is also on the rise. In many cases, seniors put off seeking assistance for various ailments because they feel what they are experiencing is just a natural part of aging.
While it is true we can expect to go through some degree of physical and mental decline as we get older, it doesn’t have to be debilitating. More often than not, if a health problem is identified and diagnosed at an early stage there are typically various treatments and lifestyle changes that can help manage the issue.
Don’t Neglect Your Hearing
Even something as crucial to daily living as hearing often gets neglected when it starts to deteriorate. It may surprise you to learn that most people wait a shocking seven years before acknowledging a problem with hearing loss. Over such a long period of inaction the potential for irreparable damage gets increasingly higher.
Why are people waiting so long to get a hearing test?
Even though hearing loss is one of the most prevalent health concerns among seniors, the problem still doesn’t seem to be taken as seriously as it should be.
Some of the most common factors that may cause a delay in addressing hearing loss include:
- · Lack of information
- · Belief there is nothing to be done
- · Stigma
- · Making accommodations
- · Gradual decline
- · Impaired mobility
Lack of Information
Getting educated about the potential repercussions of hearing loss is a good start in correcting the issue. If older adults were more aware of the impact auditory impairment can have on independent living, maybe they would take a more active interest.
Just like with most problems, the longer it is left to fester the more difficult it is to fix. Hearing loss that is caused by physical damage to the auditory nerve and cilia (tiny hairs in the ear) can not be reversed. However it can be managed by selecting from the wide range of hearing aid devices available which can be customized to the specific need.
Belief There is Nothing to be Done
It would seem a lot of people are of the opinion that hearing loss is just a normal part of aging and there is nothing to be done about it. Years ago that may have been true, but with significant advancements in knowledge and technology there are now assistive devices that can help with a range of hearing impairments.
Stigma
In some cases, individuals with hearing loss may be aware of the assistance available through hearing aids but are still resistant due to social stigmas. The belief that hearing aids are unattractive or will make you look old can prevent some people from getting the help they need.
Depending on the severity of the hearing loss there are some hearing aids available now that are barely even noticeable. Besides, is wearing a hearing aid really a less appealing option than not being able to follow or participate in conversations?
Making Accommodations
In the age of the workaround fix, many people would rather just apply a temporary band-aid solution rather than getting at the root of the problem. Turning the TV or radio up to high volumes and asking people to constantly repeat themselves is not a sustainable remedy.
Gradual Decline
Hearing loss tends to occur slowly over time, starting out as a minor issue and progressively getting worse. Accommodations are made along the way to adapt, making it difficult to recognize when it becomes a more serious problem.
Generally speaking, high pitch sounds are the first to go but since the hearing loss isn’t absolute it is often just accepted and endured.
Impaired Mobility
Along with hearing, strength and mobility also decrease as we get older. Seniors that struggle with mobility issues may find it strenuous just to get a doctor or clinic to get their hearing tested.
Mobile Hearing Aid and Hearing Clinic Services are available to anyone in the greater Vancouver area that is experiencing hearing loss. These services include assessments, tests, education, advice, recommendations, training, and ongoing support all in the comfort of your own home.
