How to prolong hearing health? Prevention of hearing loss

Hearing is a unique ability to interact with the outside world. Many people think that we navigate the world only through sight, which is wrong. The organs of hearing also provide valuable information. It is necessary for a full and happy human life. The sound of rain, the rustle of leaves and grass, thunder, and other natural sounds help to cope with emotional stress. There is even a separate area of medical care – sound therapy. Hearing significantly affects our lives.

Many people take the opportunity to hear as a matter of course. They begin to think about its importance only at those moments when the hearing begins to deteriorate. Unfortunately, the modern lifestyle, especially in large cities, is increasingly affecting the hearing organs. As a result, many people's hearing begins to deteriorate. What causes hearing impairment? How not to replenish the sad statistics of people with hearing loss? How to protect the health of your hearing? Let's figure it out together!

Why is hearing loss a serious problem?

According to WHO statistics, hearing problems are among the top 10 most common disorders among people around the world. Tens and even hundreds of millions of people around the world have hearing problems, and this figure is only growing year by year. Even special measures aimed at maintaining hearing health cannot stop the unpleasant trend. Why is this happening?

Firstly, the main cause of hearing loss in most people is age-related changes. With age, changes occur in the hearing organs, which lead to hearing impairment. To be more specific, we hear thanks to the hair cells that are located in the inner ear. These cells perceive external sounds, form electrical impulses, and send them further to the brain using the auditory nerve. The brain processes them into familiar sounds. The hair cells do not regenerate. If you have damaged them, they will work inefficiently. When a person gets older, the number of damaged hair cells increases, and the person begins to hear worse. Thus, almost every person on the planet falls into the risk group.

Secondly, the modern lifestyle negatively affects the hearing organs. First of all, we are talking about noise exposure. Loud music in headphones, public transport (metro, planes), and professions (builder, musician.) damage hair cells. We have already told you what it leads to. The situation is aggravated by bad habits, constant stress, throat/nose infections, etc. Thus, people gradually lose their hearing. In rare cases, sudden hearing loss occurs, but its causes are different and they are poorly understood so far.

Why is a hearing loss so unpleasant for a person? Many people mistakenly think that hearing loss is only a decrease in the ability to hear external sounds. I want to note that a change in the work of the hearing organs leads to a change in the work of the brain. The brain adapts to new conditions. As a result, a person's cognitive functions decrease. In the absence of treatment, a person gradually develops problems with the orientation of space. Frequent dizziness leads to falls. And falls are especially dangerous for the elderly, among whom the percentage of people with hearing loss is the largest. This is just an example of physiological problems, but there are also psychological difficulties. The inability to communicate normally often leads a person to isolation from society. As a result, such behavior leads to the development of chronic depression and other problems.

These are all adult problems. What problems do children and adolescents have? Development problems are added to the problems listed above. Yes, healthy hearing plays an important role in development and learning. Children and adolescents with hearing loss without treatment lag behind their healthy peers in development!

Thus, hearing loss is a serious threat. It changes a person's life for the worse!

Hearing loss prevention

Hearing loss is a serious problem, but everyone can reduce the likelihood of its occurrence. It is necessary to start taking care of hearing while there are no problems with it. It is enough to carry out the following preventive measures.

Check your hearing at least once a year. Check your hearing every six months if your profession is related to noise loads. Why is it important? Often hearing decreases gradually, which is why many people cannot determine the beginning of the development of the problem, and seek medical help late. This complicates everything and increases the cost of treatment. As with many other disorders, the sooner you notice the symptoms and see a doctor, the faster and more effective the treatment will be. In addition, today there are convenient free diagnostic methods. They allow you to test your hearing right from home. We are talking about an online hearing test. Simple online testing will show the presence or absence of a problem for further action. This is an excellent solution for annual testing of hearing health for yourself and your loved ones. If you are sure that you have hearing problems (even minor ones), then it is better to go to the clinic right away. An audiologist will test your hearing with audiometry and other tests using medical equipment. Based on their result, he will prescribe treatment.

The next prevention of ear problems is the treatment of nose and sinus disorders. The ear, throat, and nose are connected. Therefore, even a seasonal cold can lead to serious complications, which can lead to hearing loss. Therefore, never give up the course of treatment in half, even if it has become easier for you. Always undergo a full course of treatment, do not allow complications!

Use protective equipment against noise exposure. These are protective earplugs and special headphones, which are especially important for professions that are subject to prolonged noise exposure. It is better to wear protective equipment at work than to constantly wear hearing aids all your life!

Give up bad habits! What do they have to do with it? Bad habits (alcohol, smoking, vaping, etc.) affect a person's cardiovascular system. Problems with blood vessels often lead to problems with hearing organs. Even insufficient blood flow (due to vascular damage) can lead to hearing loss!

Avoid stress and emotional overload. It is suitable for all health problems, including hearing organs!

Remember, it's easy to lose your hearing, but it's much more difficult to restore lost abilities. Therefore, it is better to take care of your hearing health in advance. Follow these recommendations, and then you will enjoy a wonderful palette of sounds for as many years as possible!