Most people find that the worst part of getting their first hearing aid is admitting that they need help. Their reluctance stems from the fact that hearing loss is associated with getting old, and people are also worried about the stigma of deafness. Yet it’s estimated that about 10 million people in the UK are either deaf or have some level of hearing loss – that’s one person in every six. And with the ever-increasing noise levels associated with modern living, that figure will probably rise. So it’s important to help all your family members, young and old, with their hearing healthcare.
Prevention
There are a number of ways to protect hearing, and it’s especially important young people who are much more likely to turn up the volume, not down. The use of ear buds on smartphones, iPods and other devices is causing more hearing loss in young people than ever before. It’s estimated that there’s a 30% increase in hearing loss in today’s teens than compared to the ‘80s. Try and encourage them to wear headphones instead of ear buds as they’re more efficient at blocking out background noise, and help them understand why they need to turn the volume down.
Even the slightest rise in volume brings its own danger to hearing. As a rough rule of thumb, if you need to raise your voice in order to be heard over the volume of the TV, radio or music, it’s too loud.
Protection
There are some situations where loud noise is inevitable, such as concerts or large sporting events. Though you can be at risk even in the home and garden. Domestic tools such as power drills, saws, sanders and lawn mowers can be loud enough to have the ability to cause damage. Protect your hearing by using earplugs or protectors, and if you can get away from the noise for a 10-minute break from time to time, so much the better. If you’ve been exposed to loud noise for some time, make sure you rest your hearing in order to reduce the risk of permanent deafness – the charity Action on Hearing Loss advises that for every two hours spent in a 100 decibel atmosphere, e.g. clubbing, you need to rest your hearing for at least 16 hours.
Swimming can also harm your hearing health through the risk of infection. Using swimmers’ ear plugs will enable you and your family to enjoy the water; they are especially important for anyone who already has a history of ear infection.
How to handle family members with hearing loss
Older people especially can be very stubborn about the thought of wearing hearing aids because they remember the clumsy, cumbersome ones people used to have to use. What you need to do is assure them that equipment like that has been consigned to museums! Modern hearing aids are tiny – some In the Ear aids are invisible – and they are extraordinarily efficient. What’s more, when combined with smart technology, they can revolutionise a life that’s been isolated by hearing loss.
If you think a family member might be suffering from hearing loss, book a hearing test with a qualified audiologist who will be able to advise you on the best way forward.
