Is it becoming increasingly difficult to make sense of conversations, especially in a noisy environment? Maybe you’re not hearing well when you talk on the phone, your ears feel stuffy all the time, or you’re missing sounds that used to be quite clear.
If you’re under the age of 65 and already experiencing these signs of hearing loss, then you’re probably wondering, “Am I too young to be experiencing hearing loss?”
The common assumption is that hearing loss only happens to people in their later years. Unfortunately, as I’ve been dealing with hearing loss over the years, I have treated plenty of cases in younger individuals, and their numbers are growing.
Why am I seeing this trend in Mississauga and why is this a growing trend all across Canada?
There are some valid reasons for an increase in hearing loss in younger aged individuals that I would like to explore in this post. Before we begin, here is the bottom line: nobody is too old, or too young, to experience hearing loss.
Some Common Causes of Hearing Loss in Younger People
According to Statistics Canada, 60 percent of Canadians between the ages of 19 and 79 have a measurable loss of hearing. In correlation to that statistic, 63 percent of men and 46 percent of women aged 40 to 79 are unaware that they have hearing loss.
Essentially, those statistics reveal a tremendous potential for the emergence of hearing loss cases in younger individuals. So, why are there so many cases? What is causing hearing loss to appear sooner in life?
Various factors have always contributed to hearing challenges among younger people, such as:
Genetics:
There has always been a certain percent of the population born with hearing loss. In fact, 50 to 60 percent of hearing loss in babies is genetic or congenital.
Infections and Diseases:
External factors like disease or infection often lead to hearing loss in babies and small children as they grow up.
Ototoxic Drugs:
There is an ever-increasing number of medications that can damage your ears, causing hearing loss, ringing in the ear, or balance disorders. More than 200 known ototoxic medications (prescription and over-the-counter) are on the market today.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
The number one cause of hearing loss in younger people is noise-induced hearing loss. A major contributor to this issue is the availability of surround sound speakers, headphones, and other music players with maximum levels of 120 decibels, the equivalent of a rock concert directly into your ears!
The Canadian Audiologist Journal reports that 42 percent of respondents from age 16 to 79, representing 11.2 million Canadians, reported current or past hazardous occupational noise exposure. But not all NIHL can be blamed on workplace noise, as an estimated 6.6 million Canadians were in the high cumulative leisure noise exposure category, which includes noise from amplified music, car/home stereo listening, and power tools (40 percent each), followed by sporting/entertainment (25 percent), gasoline engines (23 percent), and loud PLD listening (19.5 percent).
Whether because of loud music or because you work in a noisy occupation without proper protection, you’re never too young to experience hearing loss. So, what’s your next step?
Our track record of helping thousands of people in our area achieve better hearing proves that the most effective approach to overcoming your hearing challenges is working with a team of hearing care professionals rather than just buying a set of hearing aids.
If you have any questions or if we can help you in any way, then contact us by clicking here to schedule an appointment, or call us at (905) 990-3755
