Hearing Loss Can Increase Risk of Loneliness and Social Isolation
With nontreated hearing loss sometimes may result in many problems which can impact the daily life of a person. Sometimes hearing loss results in impacting physical, mental, emotional, and social health. Hearing loss sometimes changes the whole lifestyle of the person as they start losing interest in their hobbies, opting to stay home rather than go out and risk feeling uncomfortable when they can’t follow the conversation as they feel that their hearing loss makes connecting with others difficult. Unfortunately, this leaves very devastating impacts.
High risk of hearing loss leads to loneliness and social isolation
According to a study it is estimated that every decibel drop in hearing ability increases odds of becoming severely lonely by seven percent in people under 70. This states that seniors are at a higher risk when it comes to hearing loss. As we get older there is a high risk for a variety of illnesses and health conditions. Hearing loss is a very common health problem in adults over 65.
In most cases, elder people experience hearing loss often, if they do not seek any assistance it can become significantly worse. Older people mostly try to avoid this issue and after a point of time, they struggle with many complications which leads to loneliness and social isolation.
Detrimental Effects of Untreated Hearing Loss
People dealing with hearing loss are more likely to face factors like Social isolation, loneliness, and eventually depression According to various researches and sources there is a 50 % high risk of social isolation for people between the ages of 60 and 69. Due to this, people dealing with hearing loss feel like it is more difficult to follow and participate in regular conversation which results in the withdrawal of seniors from social activities as they feel stressed and embarrassed because of their hearing loss.
Therefore as the isolation of senior people increases because of hearing loss, so does the risk for an array of health problems such as:
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Weakened immune function
- Cardiovascular disease
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Cognitive decline
- Dementia
- Depression
A hearing aid can treat any degree of hearing loss
So there are many other factors that may result in someone becoming socially withdrawn or feeling embarrassed, people should get proper awareness that hearing loss can be easily treated and managed which helps in improving hearing capabilities. There is a variety of hearing aids and assistive listening devices which may deal with the degree of hearing loss.
Most people with hearing loss have initially avoided the idea of wearing a hearing aid due to any reason such as social stigma, expense, or the belief that they just don’t need it as they are good to go. And sometimes this cost of refusing to seek assistance may lead be something worse.
As the technology is developing, the hearing aid has also developed into a more powerful device that nowadays they are not even seen by other people and the user can easily customize its functions according to the social settings.
Say no to isolation and yes to an independent lifestyle
So instead of becoming an introverted person and living in isolation people having hearing loss should be motivated and given proper assistance about hearing aid and how it helps in hearing gloss treatment. There are many who have taken proper guidance and advice from professional doctors and decided to go for hearing aids and move on with their new phase of life and improve their standard of hearing abilities with the help of hearing aids which result in living an independent life. People should get enough awareness about hearing aid that how it makes easier communication, enhance feelings of safety, increase self-esteem and confidence, and how these things lead to a more independent lifestyle.
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