Five Ways Treatment for Hearing Loss Can Change a Person's Life

27 Jun Five Ways Treatment for Hearing Loss Can Change a Person's Life

Hearing loss is the third most common health condition Canada. It can happen to anyone and can occur at any stage of life, negatively affecting everything from work-life to home-life, relationships with friends and family and even mental and emotional health. It is for these reasons and many more that Cochlear (a hearing implant company), has released five ways that treatment for hearing loss may be able to transform a person’s life. Read the original article here, or read the main part below.

With the latest in hearing technology, including cochlear implants and bone conduction systems, those with hearing loss now have the opportunity to enhance their world. Below are five ways that the introduction of sound may be able to transform an individual’s life:

1. Health. Fatigue, tension, stress, depression³ and even dementia⁴ are all physical symptoms cited by experts as ailments linked to hearing loss. From an emotional perspective, people with hearing loss may experience irritability, anger, negativism and diminished psychological health.⁵ However, the good news is when the ability to hear is regained, overall physical and psychological health can be improved.⁶
2. Career. Reduced job performance and earning potential⁷ – and the resulting loss of identity and self-esteem – are also effects of hearing loss. The ability for an individual with hearing loss to carry out assigned tasks in a workplace environment can be severely hampered by factors such as background noise, acoustics and unfamiliarity with surroundings.⁸ Treatment for hearing loss often helps individuals feel more confident and prepared when they are on the job.
3. Daily Conveniences. Difficulty hearing the TV, alarm clock, radio, conversations over the phone or the words of another person are not just inconveniences but also potentially life-changing challenges that can lead to embarrassment, anxiety and even social withdrawal.⁹ People who struggle with these challenges due to difficulties with hearing loss may be able to overcome them by seeking treatment for their hearing loss.
4. Special Moments. Be it the crack of a bat at a little league game, the soft serenade of wedding music, or collective laughter of friends at a dinner party, many of life’s most wonderful moments can be missed due to hearing loss. This can lead to feelings of isolation and depression.¹⁰ Improved hearing can allow individuals to participate more in life and better enjoy the special moments.
5. Relationships. The inability to share intimate conversations or treasured moments because communication through conversation has been lost may be one of the most devastating effects of hearing impairment. Improved hearing through treatment options, like a cochlear implant or bone conduction system, can afford individuals the opportunity to be more fully engaged with those special people in their life.