Cultural Perception
 "When
I was told I had a hearing loss I was in shock! Hearing loss is
a sign of advancing age." So often our audiologists hear this
comment. But because we live and work in an environment filled
with
traffic, construction, lawnmowers, car stereos, concerts, movie
theatres, vacuum cleaners, and jet engines hearing
loss is occurring at younger ages.
The most common
cause of hearing loss is no longer old age; it is the exposure to
loud and continuous sound in our everyday lives. Baby boomers are
the first generation to grow up and live in this environment and
statistics show that hearing loss in the 45 - 65 year old age group
is increasing dramatically.
Hearing aid
technology has advanced in recent years. Now hearing aids can be
worn discretely and comfortably. In fact, many celebrities like
former US President Bill Clinton, musician Pete Townsend, and actor
Lou Ferrigno are baby boomers that experience hearing loss.
Hearing loss
often happens gradually and painlessly, therefore many people do
not recognize how significant their loss is. Often the sounds of
children laughing in the next room, raindrops on the window, a kitten's
cry and conversations going on around you slowly disappear. At Island Hearing we recommend that adults have their hearing tested
every 5 years to measure their hearing abilities. Hearing loss is
usually permanent and irreversible, therefore early detection can
help a person enjoy the sounds of life for a lifetime.
Avoid the frustration
and isolation that accompanies hearing loss by adopting a hearing
preservation program. There are simple things you can do to ensure
that the rich sounds of life don't slowly fade away:
 Have
a hearing test every five years
- Wear earplugs
when exposed to noisy environments
- Wear earplugs
when mowing the lawn, blow drying your hair and vacuuming
- Turn down
the stereo & television
- Whenever
possible give your ears a rest and enjoy the sound of silence.
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