Is hearing loss SCREWING with your HEALTH?

Nobody LIKES to admit it when it finally starts happening to them…

But hearing loss simply isn’t something you can outrun.

And even if you find yourself having to say the occasional “HUH” or “SAY THAT AGAIN”, your biggest worry may be having to wear a hearing aid.

But if your hearing is REALLY starting to slip, I have some news that’s definitely going to make you perk up.

Because if you think hearing loss ONLY affects your ears… THINK AGAIN!

A study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that hearing loss (especially in seniors) SPEEDS UP physical decline and reduces mobility.

The study found that older adults with hearing trouble have POORER balance, WORSE walking endurance, and FASTER declines in overall physical function compared to those with normal hearing.

Meanwhile, the study also found that folks who protected their hearing (yes, even with hearing aids) are more likely to be stronger and healthy.

In other words, sustaining your hearing will ultimately improve your overall health as you age.

Hearing aids are one of the best tools out there to help combat hearing loss. And thanks to new technology, most hearing aids these days are small, sleek, and easy to use. So there’s no embarrassment or discomfort.

A word to the wise… OTC hearing aids are now available, but you need to shop for them carefully.

Another long-term solution for those with severe hearing loss is cochlear implants. Cochlear implants are surgically implanted to help people hear by directly stimulating the auditory nerve.

Cochlear implant surgery is fairly routine and performed under general anesthesia. A small incision is made behind the ear and sometimes a small area of hair may be shaved away from the incision site. The implant is then placed under the skin and the electrode is inserted into the inner ear.

Last but not least, another way to protect your hearing is to ensure that you’re getting enough folate and other B vitamins. Over the years, study after study has confirmed that even age-related hearing loss can be significantly reduced by keeping up with the B’s, either through food or supplements.

To protecting your hearing,

Sarah Reagan

Sources:

Study Finds. “Could hearing aids be key to a longer, healthier life? Study shows hearing loss speeds up physical decline.” https://studyfinds.org/hearing-loss-speeds-physical-decline-reduces-mobility/