Prioritize Better Hearing in the New Year!

The New Year is a perfect opportunity to prioritize your hearing health. You can commit to this by taking the first step which is easy: schedule an appointment for a hearing test. 

Benefits of Hearing Aids 

Hearing is critical for effective communication and sustaining healthy relationships. Untreated hearing loss produces various symptoms that make it challenging to engage in conversations. This strains communication which has multifaceted effects on daily life – causes tension in relationships, deteriorates social life, increases healing risks, etc. Treating hearing loss offers countless benefits that profoundly enhance daily life. 

The most common treatment for hearing loss is hearing aids. Though you may be imagining outdated, bulky devices that are all too noticeable; today’s hearing aids are sleek and innovative pieces of wearable technology. Hearing aids are designed to detect and process sound which provides the auditory system with immense hearing support. This maximizes hearing capacity and offers numerous life-changing benefits including: 

1. Strengthens communication. Hearing aids alleviate hearing loss symptoms which makes it easier to hear and communicate. People can have conversations without the burden of hearing loss symptoms, creating greater ease and increasing accessibility. 
2. Improves relationships. Communication is essential for sustaining healthy relationships. Hearing aids provide critical hearing support which enables people to hear and co, indicate much more easily. This allows people to spend quality time, have rich conversations, and engage in the day-to-day communication that is important for relationships. This supports closeness and intimacy which improves relationships. 
3. Enhances health. Substantial research shows the many ways that hearing aids improve overall health. Hearing aids strengthen cognitive functions which improve brain health. Hearing aids also increase spatial awareness, promoting safety across all environments. These benefits reduce the risk of developing additional health issues that untreated hearing loss is correlated with including cognitive decline and accidental injuries. 

These benefits help people reconnect to life in vibrant ways. This boosts self-confidence, independence, and happiness. The benefits of treatment can drastically improve daily life, health, and wellness. 

What Causes Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss impacts an estimated 48 million people. This number is expected to increase exponentially as more and more people are exposed to hearing hazards. Several factors can contribute to the development of hearing loss. Common causes include the following: 

• Exposure to loud noise: one time or consistent exposure to loud noise can damage the hair cells in the inner ear. These sensory cells are integral to how we hear and process sound. They translated incoming soundwaves into electrical signals which get sent to the brain to be further analyzed. The brain is then able to make sense of this sound, assigning meaning and enabling us to understand what we hear. Loud noise can cause these hair cells to lose sensitivity and die over time which prevents them from performing their essential function. People are commonly exposed to hazardous levels of noise in the workplace, in social settings, and by listening to the audio on personal devices. 
• Aging: also known as presbycusis, age-related hearing loss is common among older adults. According to the National Institutes of Health, 33% of adults ages 65 to 74 have hearing loss. This increases to half (50%) of all adults ages 75 and older. A few factors contribute to age-related hearing loss: the cumulative impact of loud noise on the auditory system over time as well as existing medical conditions that older adults also experience disproportionately (which increases the risk of hearing loss).   
• Existing medical conditions: research shows that various medical conditions can increase the risk of hearing loss. This includes cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and osteoporosis. These conditions impact blood flow, oxygen circulation, and bone health which can all impact the auditory system and how we absorb as well as process sound. 

Other causes of hearing loss include inner ear disorders, chronic ear infections, and head injuries. Hearing loss reduces the capacity to hear and process sound which produces numerous symptoms that strain communication. This has multifaceted effects on daily life – social withdrawal, strained relationships, health risks, etc. Seeking treatment not only alleviates the toll of untreated hearing loss but also transforms health. 

Prioritize Your Hearing Health With Mt.Hood Hearing

With advancements in technology, greater research, and hearing healthcare innovations, treatment for hearing loss is accessible and straightforward. Addressing hearing loss starts with having your hearing evaluated. Hearing tests involve a painless process that measures hearing ability in both ears. Contact us today to schedule an appointment in the new year!