We are the "boombox" generation- those born in the late seventies and early eighties. As children, we turned up the fight scene on television really loud; we covered our ears with headphones to drown out the parents; or we snuck out (or maybe had permission) to go to our first rock concert. Whatever it was- car engines, video games, or movies at the theater- one thing was certain; the louder, the better. Now, we're in our twenties and thirties and weÕre undoubtedly experiencing the first signs of hearing loss.
Loud or prolonged noise has now surpassed age as a cause of hearing loss in the United States, as 40% of the hearing impaired are under the age of sixty-five. 15% of recent college graduates were actually found to have greater hearing loss than their parents. The simple solution is to just turn the television volume up a bit more.
The truth is, with advances in technology and machinery, the baby boomer generation has, by far, been the loudest. While technology may be working to make those machines quieter now, itÕs also working to provide louder speakers, more powerful amplifiers, and clearer sound.
Life is only going to get louder.
Hearing loss is almost always a gradual development, and most people donÕt even really notice that itÕs happening. Often, it's entirely undetected until someone else calls attention to it. Once we have accepted that there may be damage to our hearing, there is then the embarrassment of needing hearing aids. We all feel entirely too young to consider wearing one.
Vision aids, such as glasses and contacts, are now entirely socially acceptable. In fact, there has been such a shift in consciousness that eyeglasses are considered fashionable, and people buy trendy frames with clear lenses and wear them as an accessory.
Hearing aids have yet to earn that distinction.
This is why less than 50% of people who might benefit from a hearing aid will choose to use one. The consequences of putting off help can be dire, as the Better Hearing Institute has found that people with untreated hearing loss are prone to depression and social isolation. New studies are finding that hearing loss in the workforce is negatively impacting the economy, as those with untreated hearing loss tend to earn less money than employees that wearing hearing aids.
Moving beyond the socially accepted norm is a very hard step to take.
When faced with the facts and figures about hearing loss and the detrimental effect that it can have on a personÕs life, the next move is crucial. Choosing to wear one hearing aid can certainly be a benefit, but compare that to wearing only one contact lens when two are required. We would still miss over half of what is being said, and the world would still swim in a swirl of indistinct sounds.
The advantages of seeking out help for hearing loss, and accepting the hearing aids that are prescribed, are too great to overlook. Many hearing aids are now virtually invisible, and can most assuredly offer a better quality of life. There are no more reasons to put off seeking help, so make an appointment for a hearing assessment as soon as possible.
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