5 Myths About Hearing Loss
For a long time, hearing loss carried a huge stigma. People didn’t want to be seen as old — and hearing aids were a visible sign that they didn’t have all their original faculties intact. These days, with the likes of Rob Lowe, Halle Berry, Jodie Foster and Bill Clinton not just wearing hearing aids but talking about them, that stigma has all but disappeared. Everyone is walking around with something in their ears anyway — headphones, earbuds, a Bluetooth device. Folks may as well use technology that helps them hear.
As section head of audiology at the Cleveland Clinic, I see a lot of patients with misconceptions about hearing loss. Here are a few of the most common.
Myth: Hearing loss happens only to old people.
Truth: In fact, 40 percent of the 48 million Americans with hearing loss are younger than 60. Hearing loss does accelerate with age: Almost 30 percent of those between ages 50 and 59 suffer from some degree of impaired hearing in one or both ears; 45 percent of people between 60 and 69 have impaired hearing; and three-quarters of those older than 70 do.
Myth: Your hearing loss was caused by all those rock concerts years ago.
Truth: They certainly didn’t help, but there are many other contributors, including the normal aging process, genetics, medications, smoking, a poor diet and diabetes. All of these destroy the hair cells in the inner ear — and it’s the hair cells that send auditory signals to your brain. Once hair cells are damaged, they’re damaged. There’s no approved drug that will regrow them in humans, though researchers have been able to regenerate the cells in birds and mice. To find out more click this link.
Category: Wellness
