Hearing loss is a problem that can develop at any age, and many people are surprised to find that a large percentage of the deaf population worldwide are young people. Some children are born with hearing loss, and this may be congenital or the result of birth accidents such as a lack of oxygen, and some children develop hearing loss at a later stage due to ear infections or complications of childhood illnesses.
Here at Hidden Hearing, we see many children and young people who are living with hearing loss, and we are glad to stock an excellent range of hearing aids that make use of the most sophisticated technology. Delayed speech and language skills can often be a result of early hearing loss, and intervention at the earliest possible stage can help to prevent further problems. Hearing aids and cochlear implants can be very effective in many cases.
What Causes Hearing Loss As We Age?
The majority of those living with hearing loss, however, have developed this in older age, and it is often estimated that a third of people over the age of sixty develop hearing loss as they get older. Many factors can be implicated in this development, and there are some important things you can consider to protect your hearing. Age-related hearing loss may be caused by:
- Diabetes
- Some pharmaceutical medications
- Long term exposure to loud noises, especially in a working environment
- High blood pressure
- Poor circulation
- Changes in blood flow to the ear
- Damage to the hair cells inside the ear
- Adjustments in the way the brain processes sounds
- Damage to the auditory nerves
- Changes in the structures of the inner ear
- Smoking.
You will dramatically reduce your risk of developing hearing loss if you are aware of these factors and can minimize their effects wherever possible. Eating a balanced, healthy diet and taking regular exercise can keep your ears functioning well, and avoiding smoking and activities that may lead to head trauma will decrease the likelihood of developing problems with your hearing.
Medications can have a hugely detrimental effect on your ears, so it is very important to talk this through with your doctor if he or she is prescribing medications for you, and to alert your doctor or pharmacist if there is a history of inner-ear related hearing loss in your family.
Try Digital Hearing Aids at Hidden Hearing
Ireland’s leading private provider of hearing care solutions is Hidden Hearing, with a national network of over seventy-five branches and clinics. You can make an appointment for a free hearing test and talk to our audiologists about any problems you may be experiencing with your hearing.
We have an excellent range of digital hearing aids for you to try, and we know you’ll be impressed by these tiny but highly effective devices. Hearing aids come in a variety of designs and styles to suit you and your lifestyle, and your audiologist will work with you to find the perfect fit.
Contact Hidden Hearing online today, or pop into your local branch.