You probably already recognize that smoking is bad for you and so are things like leading a sedentary lifestyle. But did you know there is intriguing research suggesting a connection between untreated hearing loss and premature death?
Individual life expectancy varies widely, of course. Access to healthcare, where you live, type of work, gender, and access to healthy food can all be factors in this variance. But individuals who deal with untreated hearing loss appear to die earlier even when you take these differences into account.
Research Connecting Early Death to Hearing Loss
Norwegian researchers evaluated the health data from over 50,000 people over a two-year period. The cases of death for all the people were cross-referenced with the data. They could link a greater chance of premature death to hearing loss regardless of the cause of death.
The risk of cardiovascular death is greater for people who have hearing loss especially if they live by themselves and there is a 21% higher morbidity for individuals who suffer from even moderate hearing loss, according to other studies.
Clarifying The Link
For scientists, just because they uncover a connection doesn’t mean that a causality is firmly established. Identifying what precisely the connection is will normally be the first thing they will attempt to do. How are the two really linked?
In this same research it was reported that there was a greater risk in women with no kids and men and women who are divorced. This suggests that social life has an impact on longevity.
This presumption is backed by previous research. One study published in the Journal of Epidemiology examined the data from more than half a million individuals. It reported that the risk of early death was significantly increased by social separation.
How is Longevity Increased by Social Stability?
Much like a pack of wolves or a herd of elephants in the wild, social relationships offer several life-extending benefits to humans:
- Mental stimulation… You’re participating with others in conversation, jokes, sharing, and more.
- Safety… If you need medical attention, you will be more likely to get it quickly if there are more people around.
- Improved diet and health… Socially connected people usually have better access to healthy food and can make it to doctor’s appointments.
- Support… Someone with a strong social network is more likely to ask for help if they need it (instead of trying to do something dangerous on their own).
- Motivation… Getting up in the morning, doing new things, and looking forward to their day can be powerfully motivated by having people around.
- Physical stimulation… You’re more likely to go out and do things if you have people around.
What is it about neglected hearing loss that takes all of this away?
How Hearing Loss Plays A Role in Social Separation And Decreased Longevity
You most likely have family who will always be there for you. It’s hard to envision how hearing loss may change that.
Have you ever been in a room full of strangers enjoying the company of each other, but paying no attention to you? You probably felt very alone. You can begin to feel like this with untreated hearing loss. It’s not that people are ignoring you. It seems as if you’re being ignored because people are beginning to have a tough time having a conversation with you.
From your perspective, you frequently feel out of the loop because you lose parts of the conversation. Physical and emotional withdrawal, even at family gatherings, can be the outcome. Going out to a restaurant with friends and participating in a social club, event or hobby loses its appeal. You may find that you merely avoid these kinds of interactions. Here are some other challenges that individuals who have progressing hearing loss cope with.:
- Mental exhaustion
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
Social interactions become even more stressful because of these.
The Norwegian scientists offer a silver lining in their research, however. After reviewing their research, they came to a significant conclusion. The connection between premature death and hearing loss can be disrupted by wearing hearing aids.
You will stay healthier, more active and social if you wear hearing aids and that can give you longevity.
This fact can be backed by similar studies. One such study was carried out by the American Academy of Audiology. They revealed that when people with hearing loss use hearing aids regularly, they have:
- Better relationships with family
- More independence
- Enhanced social life outside the home
Early Death Linked to Untreated Hearing Loss
The link between hearing loss and early death is a complicated one. But when we combine the abundance of data, an entire picture appears. It shows how hearing loss affects health, finances, relationships, and more. So it’s easy to recognize why the early demise connection exists.
These studies also make it obvious that managing hearing loss can counter its adverse effects. You can keep living an active, social and healthy life well into those older years.
References
https://www.earth.com/news/hearing-loss-premature-death/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/hearing/news-briefs-does-hearing-loss-boost-death-risk
https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/public-health-now/news/hearing-loss-risk-factor-premature-death
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwy231