Wellness
It affects your well-being in ways you might not realize.
Sarah Lundstrom, an audiologist and fellow of the American Academy of Audiology, tells Bustle.
While hearing loss is more common after age 50, it can certainlyhappen in your 20s and 30s.
Hearing loss is much less age-related than we once thought, Lundstrom says.
Your genetics, lifestyle, and general health all play a role in your hearing.
What Causes Hearing Loss?
We are seeing an increase in the number of young people withnoise-induced hearing loss, she tells Bustle.
One big issue is headphone use, as they can easily pump110 decibelsof loud music straight into your ears.
This volume can cause damage to the inner ear in just a matter of minutes, Sarow says.
Fortunately, there are some technologies that incorporate warnings or alerts around headphone volume, such as Apple Health.
Loud concerts can also do some damage, as can noisy work environments.
Its so essential to your mental health to have conversation and connection with others, she says.
If your hearing loss is significant enough, Lundstrom says it could put your safety at risk.
Loud sound exposure is also astressor for the body, Sarow says.
This, in turn, can lead tofatigue, headaches, concentration problems, and increased blood pressure.
How To Protect Your Hearing
Prevention is key when it comes to protecting your ears.
Its why its so important to limit your exposure to excess noise and to wear hearing protection like earplugs.
Its also worth it to keep an eye on the volume level on your phone.
Listening at80dB for eight hours or morecan cause hearing loss over time, she says.
The louder the sound, the less time it’s possible for you to listen.
Its also worth asking your doctor about hearing-related side effects to medications and getting hearing aids if need be.
While it can betough to admit you need hearing aids, your hearing health is worth it.
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