Don’t underestimate the profound impact hearing loss can have on your life. When you struggle to follow conversations, you can become more isolated from friends and family, your performance at work can decline, and you can miss out on activities or media that you used to enjoy.
However, you do not have to let hearing loss run your life. There are treatment options that can help you manage and adapt to hearing loss. Treatment starts with recognizing the signs of hearing loss and booking a hearing test. Some of those signs include tinnitus (a consistent ringing or buzzing in your ears – you can read on about the biggest myths about tinnitus to learn more), regularly asking people to repeat themselves, raising the volume on your TV, phone, or other devices, struggling to locate which direction sounds are coming from, and difficulty hearing high-pitched noises.
If you notice any of these symptoms, take action. We can help you find the right treatment options so that you can improve your hearing health and your general well-being. Early intervention is key to preserving your hearing health.
The Connection Between Hearing Health and Your Overall Well-Being
While Toronto Hearing Consultants are audiologists, meaning we specialize in hearing health, there are connections between hearing and your overall well-being. Certain medical conditions can impact your hearing. For example, diabetes can affect your hearing by causing permanent nerve damage, as can certain medications that are toxic to the inner ear, including medications used to treat cancer.
Conversely, hearing loss has also been associated with higher risks of developing dementia. Hearing loss can contribute to social isolation and reduce the amount of mental stimulation in your life, leading to accelerated cognitive decline. Your hearing and your overall well-being are intricately connected.
Types of Hearing Loss
There are several different types of hearing loss that can affect you, and the treatments differ based on where your hearing loss is located. They include:
- Conductive Hearing Loss is a type of hearing loss that occurs in the outer and middle ear, preventing the transmission of sound, muffling loud sounds, and making soft sounds hard to hear. This can be caused by fluid buildup in the middle ear, ear infections, or wax buildup.
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss occurs as a result of damage in the inner ear, typically as a result of age, medications known to be toxic to the inner ear, and excessive exposure to noise.
- Mixed Hearing Loss involves damage to both the inner ear and the middle or outer ear.
How Untreated Hearing Loss Affects Your Daily Life
Untreated hearing loss can lead to numerous negative outcomes in our daily lives:
- Increased risk of injury: Your hearing is an integral part of the way your body balances. Untreated hearing loss can lead to falls, especially among older adults who may suffer from mobility or strength limitations.
- Lower income: Struggling with hearing can have negative impacts on your employability and work performance. The Hearing Health Foundation estimates that untreated hearing loss can decrease your annual income by as much as $30,000.
- Increased risk of developing dementia: Hearing loss can lead to an increased rate of brain atrophy, as well as social disengagement.
The Benefits of Hearing Health
Hearing loss does not have to have these impacts. You can improve your quality of life with hearing care and treatments. It starts with visiting our trusted clinic for hearing health. These are just some of the benefits of better hearing:
#1 Strengthen Communication and Improve Your Personal Life
Improving your hearing means taking away a barrier that’s stood between you and your friends, family, and coworkers. When you wear a hearing aid, you can feel more confident in your hearing. You will no longer second guess everything someone says, reducing the frustration you might feel when having a conversation and improving the bonds that you share with the people in your life.
#2 Improve Your Social and Emotional Well-Being
When you no longer worry about whether or not you’ve heard someone correctly, you’re more likely to put yourself out into the world. Hearing loss is known to increase social isolation and lead to depression and anxiety. A hearing aid can restore your confidence and help you get back to taking bigger risks.
#3 Get Back to Enjoying Your Favourite Media and Activities
Hearing loss can dampen your enthusiasm for listening to music, seeing live shows, or even watching movies or TV. If you’re an outdoors person, it can mute the sounds of nature and take something away from the magic of the experience. Treating hearing loss can help restore your passion for activities that may have fallen by the wayside since your hearing began to decline.
Hearing Aids: Everything You Need to Know
Many people leave their hearing untreated because they are reluctant to wear a hearing aid. They might be surprised to learn how far hearing aids have come. The latest in modern hearing aid styles are much more subtle than what you might be thinking. You can find hearing aids that are practically invisible in your ear, as well as sleeker, slimmer, and more fashionable hearing aids. Most of the people in your life won’t even notice when you’re wearing a hearing aid.
Toronto Hearing Consultants help you find the right fit for hearing aids. If you’re not sure whether you should wear one vs. two hearing aids, we assess your hearing and find the appropriate treatment for you.
The Best Hearing Solutions in Toronto Are Here
Not everyone walks into our clinic with the same needs. Toronto Hearing’s commitment is to give our patients the best possible hearing care and treatments for their individual needs. We’re hearing specialists in Toronto who always strive to help our patients.
Professionals such as musicians, audio specialists, and people who work in film production or live entertainment have unique requirements to treat and protect their hearing. Talk to us about how musician earplugs can protect your hearing or hearing aids tailored to sensitively picking up on music.
There are many hearing loss treatment options out there. Book an appointment with us to get your hearing tested or start exploring your treatment options.
