Central Florida Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles of the Villages
Related Articles
By Dr. Evans Pemba
Did you struggle to hear your friends and family over the holidays? Approximately 38 million Americans suffer from some form of hearing loss. And since hearing loss is expected as we age, many decide to it go unchecked. However, ignoring hearing loss can have serious negative side effects on a one’s overall health.
According to an AARP study, more than 33% of senior citizens consider hearing loss to be a minor issue. 50% of the respondents to this study went on to cite the cost of hearing aids as a primary reason for why they didn’t seek auditory intervention. However, those costs can rise astronomically when you factor in the serious side effects of ignoring hearing loss. Below are some examples.
Falling
According to the CDC more than 25% of Americans aged 65+ fall each year. Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. People with mild hearing loss are nearly three times as likely to fall, with each 10 decibels of hearing loss increasing fall risk. Here are some reasons for the correlation between hearing loss and falling:
Exhaustion: Your brain is working extra hard and you’re always straining when you have neglected hearing loss. Your brain will be constantly exhausted as a result. An exhausted brain is less likely to detect that obstacle in your path, and, as a result, you might wind up tripping and falling.
Loss of balance: Your inner ear is incredibly important to your total equilibrium. So, when hearing loss affects your inner ear, you might find yourself a little more likely to grow dizzy, experience vertigo, or have difficulty maintaining your balance. Thus, you’re at a greater risk of falling.
Inability to hear high-frequency sounds: Your ears utilize high-frequency sounds to help you “echolocate”. When you have high pitch hearing loss (which is the most common type of loss), you lose the ability to echolocate. Disorientation can result which in turn makes you more susceptible to falling.
Less situational awareness: You may not be able to hear the sound of your neighbor’s footsteps, or an approaching vehicle when you have neglected hearing loss. As a result, daily activities can become more hazardous if your situational awareness is jeopardized. Thus, your chances of stumbling into something and falling will be a little higher.
Fatigue
Most people don’t associate fatigue with hearing loss. The reality is that the less you hear, the more your body has to work to make up for the deficit, which in turn leaves you feeling tired. This is because when you have a hearing deficit, your brain has to work harder to fill in the blanks you’re missing in conversations – which is often made even more difficult when there is background noise. The chronic fatigue that results can impact your health by leaving you too tired to take care of yourself, which may in turn cause you to skip things like going to the gym and cooking healthy meals.
Cognitive Decline
Several studies by Johns Hopkins University linked hearing loss to decreased brain functions, accelerated brain tissue loss, and dementia. While these links are correlations instead of causations, researchers believe that, again, the more cognitive resources that are spent trying to fill in the blanks of a conversation, the less resources there are to focus on things like memorization and comprehension. And as people age, the increased draw on cognitive resources can speed up the decline of other brain functions and contribute to gray matter loss. In addition, having a regular exchange of ideas and information, often through conversation, is believed to help seniors stay mentally fit and can help slow the process of cognitive decline.
Mental Health Issues
The National Council on the Aging conducted a study of 2,300 seniors who had some form of hearing loss and discovered that those who left their condition untreated were more likely to also suffer from mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and paranoia, which negatively affected their social and emotional well-being. The link between hearing loss and mental health issues makes sense because people with hearing loss often have difficulty communicating with others in social or family situations. This can lead to feelings of isolation, which can eventually lead to depression. If left untreated, anxiety and even paranoia can result due to these feelings of isolation and exclusion. Hearing aids have been shown to help in the recovery from depression, though anyone suffering from depression, anxiety, or paranoia should consult a mental health professional.
If you suffer from hearing loss or are experiencing any of the negative effects listed above, please reach out to Ocala Hears Audiology at The Villages to help you live a healthier life.
Happy Hearing!
Dr. Evans Pemba
Dr. Evans Pemba is the Audiologist and owner of Ocala Hears Audiology. A graduate of the University of Florida (UF), Dr. Pemba is a rabid fan of all things Gators and bleeds orange and blue through and through.
After graduating from UF, Evans served in the Army and has a special place for the Veterans that gave us all the freedoms we enjoy. When he is not seeing patients, Evans likes to enjoy the Florida outdoors with his wife and two daughters.
Born in Zimbabwe, he comes from a culture where oral tradition is the primary method via which knowledge is handed down from generation to generation. Therefore, he knows how important it is to be a good listener. As such, he promises to always listen more than he talks. That way you and he will chart the best path towards helping you hear better.
Ocala
(352) 612 – 3739
1630 SE 18th St, Suite 203
Ocala, FL 34471
The Villages/Lady Lake
(352) 612 – 3739
510 County Road 466, Suite 201
Lady Lake, FL 32159
