Hearing loss is an inconvenience that can interfere with social life and affect productivity at work, but did you know that there are also other health implications connected with hearing damage?
Hearing Loss in Babies and Young Children
Hearing loss in newborns and children are often the most damaging to a person’s life of development delays that can result during childhood. If a child can’t hear well during formative years, there may be developmental damage that cannot be undone once the problem is discovered.
This is why there is now routine infant hearing screening not long after birth and at checkups to ensure learning, language, and social development is on track.
It is important that hearing loss is detected as early as possible, so children don’t miss learning and development milestones that will affect language, self-esteem, and lifelong communication skills.
Hearing Loss in Adults
Noise-induced hearing loss in adults is by far the most common type of hearing damage. While adulthood hearing loss doesn’t affect development, it can result in other health complications like social and mental health problems.
Hearing damage symptoms may include mental strain, fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, high blood pressure and high stress.
Hearing loss makes it much more difficult to communicate and increases the effort it takes to hear and understand. Decreased mental stimulation can also lead to cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Hearing Loss can be a Symptom
We have seen how hearing damage could precipitate other health and medical issues. Hearing loss itself can also be a consequence of other health issues which may not have been detected.
Heart disease, high blood sugar, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and other chronic illness can all affect hearing loss. Respiratory and ear infections also affect hearing temporarily.
Medications , known as ototoxic medicines, can cause short-term hearing loss as well, but usually reverse once the medication is stopped.
The first step to halting hearing loss and preventing further damage is to recognize your situation. Come in today for a hearing screening and formulate a strategy to train your brain to listen actively and effectively.
Diablo Hearing Services 2301 Camino Ramon, STE 106 San Ramon (925) 394-4646