Hearing health refers to the ability of your hearing system to function effectively. . It’s a precious sense that deserves to be nurtured. However, several factors can cause this ability to deteriorate, including frequent exposure to loud noises and natural aging.
The Importance of Good Hearing Health
It is essential to understand that hearing health is a crucial component of our overall well-being. It allows us to communicate effectively, maintain our social relationships and improve our quality of life. Unfortunately, many people suffer from hearing loss or other hearing problems , often untreated, which can have detrimental consequences on their daily lives.
Hearing loss can have a negative impact on quality of life , impairing communication and social interactions. Therefore, hearing screening and medical monitoring are essential for early diagnosis and management of hearing loss.
It is important to note that excess noise can be detrimental to health, causing not only hearing problems such as deafness and tinnitus, but also more general health problems, including cardiovascular pathologies. Therefore, preserving our hearing is not only a matter of convenience, but a necessity for maintaining good general health.
Untreated hearing loss can increase the risk of dementia, depression and other health problems. Therefore, regular hearing medical consultation is strongly recommended, especially for the elderly and groups at risk.
How to maintain good hearing health.
It is strongly recommended to avoid establishments or activities whose reputation is based on high noise levels. If you cannot avoid these environments, be sure to move as far away from loudspeakers as possible, monitor the sound level using audio devices, and wear protective foam earplugs .
Prevention of deafness can be ensured by reducing exposure to excessive noise. It is common practice to reduce the duration of exposure to high sound levels and not to exceed certain weekly exposure limits, depending on sound levels. This consultation can be carried out with a hearing care professional , who will be able to give you specific and adapted advice.
Finally, think about the youngest: prolonged or inappropriate use of tablets, smartphones and headsets can increase the risk of hearing loss, damage to the auditory system and tinnitus in children. It is then essential to adjust sound levels and limit the use of these devices.
Better understand hearing aids and their effects
Hearing aid is a device used to improve hearing. Its main role is to make the sound more audible to the person using it. According to the ACHIEVE clinical study , hearing aid use can reduce cognitive decline by half in hearing-impaired older adults at risk for cognitive decline. They can also improve the perception of sounds and reduce tinnitus .
There are a variety of hearing aids, including cochlear implants , which stimulate the cochlea to help better perceive sounds, especially high-frequency sounds. On the other hand, conventional hearing aids are often used to improve the perception of bass sounds.
A new trend is the combination of conventional hearing aids and cochlear implants in certain patients with severe hearing loss. This combined approach can potentially enable better perception of the entire sound spectrum.
The medical community recommends consulting a hearing care professional for appropriate information about hearing health and hearing aid use.
Research continues into hearing and therapeutic approaches to improve hearing health. Ongoing advances in this area could bring us closer to more effective solutions to treat hearing loss and improve the quality of life of those affected.
