Are you worried about your hearing? Or maybe someone you love hasn’t been hearing as well. Hearing loss is often associated with old age. But what happens if you’re relatively young and having trouble?
Nobody likes to have a health issue. But hearing trouble can be especially concerning, especially when you’re young. You might be afraid to talk about it. But hearing problems makes it hard to connect with others. And when you don’t feel connected to others, you can experience loneliness and depression. Don’t take this lightly.
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Tinnitus
One of the most common hearing issues is tinnitus. Tinnitus causes you to hear ringing or buzzing.
There are two main types: object and subjective. Most cases of tinnitus are subjective. Subjective tinnitus starts with damage to the ears from repeated loud noises – like listening to lots of loud music. The ringing and buzzing will only be heard by you. Subjective tinnitus can’t be cured but there are treatments.
Objective tinnitus is usually caused by a physical issue such as a growth in the ear. A specialist using a listening device will actually be able to hear the buzzing too. Luckily, surgery can help fix the defect that causes the buzzing and it may go away.
Since most forms of tinnitus can not be cured, treatment is based on coping with the condition. Recently there has been an increased number of teenagers developing this condition. So getting help as early as possible can help minimize suffering.
Neurological Issues
Hearing can also be a neurological issue. This means that there is an underlying cause which could be something like a tumor. It’s important to stress that this is a rare occurrence.
Your doctor will decide whether a further investigation is required. This will usually occur if you are young and there is no sign of damage to the ears.
Psychological
Hearing loss can even be psychological. Trauma and shock have both been found in the past to cause hearing loss.
This hearing loss is usually temporary but it can be quite frightening for individuals to experience. If you do find that you lose your hearing suddenly and you haven’t been in a recent highly stressful situation, it is worth contacting a doctor.
The Treatment Solutions
You may feel self-conscious being younger with hearing trouble. The reality is that nobody needs to know. Hearing aids used to be very obvious. Now, they’re much more subtle.
Don’t delay seeing a doctor to help you hear again. The alternative is difficult communication and a lack of connection. You don’t want to live like that. Make sure to maintain your device and get hearing aid repairs when necessary.
Be aware that not every type of hearing aid will be suitable for your needs. It’s worth speaking to an audiologist to find the right choice.
Other hearing issues such as tinnitus have a wider variety of treatment possibilities. For instance, you might want to consider cognitive retraining therapy. This teaches you to view the sound as something that can remain in the subconscious. With training, you won’t actively be able to hear it.
If you’re younger and experiencing hearing issues, please don’t ignore it. You’re not alone. With medical help, you can get your hearing back again. And this will allow you a better, more fulfilling life.
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