Hearing loss is a common and frustrating problem, with many people experiencing it as part of the natural ageing process. More men than women develop hearing loss, however, and some studies show that men are twice as likely to do so.
Why Do More Men Develop Hearing Loss?
- Working environments. Working in a noisy environment, such as a construction site, can be very damaging to the auditory processing system, and jobs such as this still see a marked gender bias. More men than women are working in these environments, perhaps leading to a higher rate of hearing loss as a result.
- Medications. Many types of medication can have implications for hearing loss, and this may be a factor in the gender imbalance. Aspirin, for example, is linked to increased diagnosis with hearing loss.
- Losing high frequency sounds. Men and women tend to experience hearing loss differently, with men losing the higher frequency sounds and women finding it harder to hear lower frequencies. This may make conversations more difficult, especially since men tend to have more difficulty hearing consonant sounds as a result.
- Exposure to loud noises. It may sound old-fashioned, but statistics show that men are still more likely to spend their weekends tinkering with power tools or motorbikes than their female counterparts. These are activities that can damage the ears due to very loud noises, which may be another explanation for the fact that more men than women have hearing loss.
Protect Your Ears From Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be very frustrating to live with, and if you hate the idea of wearing hearing aids, you will need to be very careful to protect your ears throughout your life. Using ear defenders when you are around loud music or machinery is vital, and you should also ensure that you listen to music at a reasonable volume when you’re using earphones, as these can accelerate damage.
Smoking is often seen as a causal factor in hearing loss, so you should ensure that you cut down or give up as soon as possible if you’re a smoker. Always discuss medications with your doctor, and ask whether hearing loss could be a side effect of a medication you are offered. There may be a suitable alternative that carries less risk available.
Try Digital Hearing Aids at Hidden Hearing
Here at Hidden Hearing, we will be on hand to help you if you are experiencing any problems with your hearing. We offer free hearing tests, and we can resolve temporary problems such as ear wax blockages quickly and easily.
Hidden Hearing is Ireland’s leading private provider of hearing care solutions. We have a great range of hearing aids that you can try, including digital hearing aids that are discreet, comfortable and highly sensitive. Contact us online today or pop into your local branch to see how we can help.