According to the stats, around 1 in 8 Americans experience some degree of hearing loss in both ears. That’s a shocking statistic, and it’s made worse by the reality that around 28% of those people report difficulties when completing everyday activities.
Of course, that’s not altogether surprising when you consider how much of our lifestyles rely on a full sensory palette. But, if you’re experiencing any level of hearing loss yourself, you might be shocked to realize just how far-reaching the impact of this problem can be.
Physically speaking, hearing loss is obviously uncomfortable, especially when accompanied by common comorbid problems like tinnitus. But this problem can also impact your wellness in far wider-reaching ways. In this article, we’ll discuss the hearing hurdles that could stand in the way of your emotional wellness, as well as considering potential ways to leap over them.
1 – You struggle to Socialize
Difficulty socializing is one of the most commonly reported problems amongst individuals with hearing loss, and that often leads to risks like depression. Even when that’s not the case, experts believe that social isolation is a worrying issue in itself, and can be as bad for our health as smoking up to fifteen cigarettes a day. But this can feel like an impossible problem to overcome if hearing loss prevents you from following conversations. At first, you may simply turn down invitations to loud restaurants or bars, but you may eventually struggle with even face-to-face discussions.
Unfortunately, many people don’t feel comfortable talking about hearing loss, especially if they’re on the younger side. You might feel embarrassed about the problem or simply underestimate its severity. And that can lead to friends feeling like you’re constantly cancelling plans for no reason, or that you just don’t communicate effectively.
These misunderstandings can be incredibly damaging, and the easiest way to overcome them is to simply be honest with your friends and yourself about what’s going on. Instead of cancelling without explanation at the last minute, talk to your friends about any concerns as soon as plans are made. Explain environments where you struggle the most, and make sure that your friends know you’re not just being unreliable. Then, they can either make separate arrangements to spend time with you or, more likely, they’ll adjust their plans to provide provisions that ensure you can come along and enjoy their company, hearing loss and all.
2 – You’re Always Exhausted
Hearing loss might seem like a standalone problem, but that’s really not the case. In reality, this one sensory setback can set off huge chain reactions in your body. For instance, experts know that difficulty hearing can have a huge impact on your other senses and, over time, will even cause the sensory areas of your brain that handle vision, touch, etc., to rewire themselves. This is how your body compensates, but it can have a hugely negative impact over time. Hence, there are strong links between hearing loss and dementia. But, even in a less extreme example, constantly battling to compensate for hearing difficulties can leave you exhausted every single day.
These low energy reserves can have a significant impact on your body over time, and may even lead to high stress levels that may weaken your immune system. As simple as that, hearing loss can become a full-body issue, which is only going to get worse the longer this problem remains unchecked.
Unfortunately, the physical extent of this problem won’t solve itself by simply talking about what’s happening. Instead, looking after your whole body, and your hearing as well, requires a visit to a trained audiologist. As well as helping you to understand what’s happening and why that’s taking such a toll on your body, they can point towards solutions like hearing aids, which can significantly reduce the strain caused by hearing loss. This is especially likely if they talk you through the future of hearing aid personalization, which could quite literally lead you to devices that adjust themselves towards your hearing needs without you needing to think about it. Suddenly, this simple step could see you hearing with ease in a way you haven’t come close to in years. And that could leave you with a surprising amount more energy than you’re used to.
3 – You’re Falling Behind at Work
Performing well at work is important to everything from your literal income to your happiness in general. Hence, you likely take steps to remove things that could impact your work performance, such as everyday distractions or those late nights that see you dragging your feet. But did you know that hearing loss can also have a significant impact on the quality of your work?
From preventing you from hearing what the boss has asked you to, to making client calls almost impossible to handle, hearing loss can cause an undeniable strain. When you add to that the feelings of isolation and general fatigue you may feel in the midst of undiagnosed hearing problems, you’re on track to a recipe for workplace disaster. Worse, the invisible nature of this problem means that your boss may simply think you’re dropping a lot of balls, increasing your risk of discipline and eventual job loss.
Again, solutions like hearing aids and proper treatment can help here, but the most important thing you can do to save your job is simply speak to your manager about what’s going on. After all, no good can come from leaving them in the dark. By being honest and open about where your hearing loss causes problems, your boss will be more understanding and will most likely take steps to ensure you can do your job well again. This could include emailing you their meeting notes or delegating your tasks one-on-one. Either way, you’ll be able to start performing well again in no time.
Hearing loss has far-reaching implications for your life and wellness, which is why it’s vital to recognize the problem and seek help to start living the life you deserve again.
The owners of Cinnamon Hollow and many of its authors are not doctors and this is in no way intended to be used as medical advice. We cannot be held responsible for your results. As with any product, service or supplement, use at your own risk. Always do your own research and consult with your personal physician before using.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.
