Millennials comprise around 77 million people in America or roughly one-fourth of the overall population. These people were born from 1980 to 2000 as the group of people after generation X. Even though millennials are the youngest workers and consumers, generally in the early 20s to late 30s, they still suffer from hearing loss and hearing difficulties. This indicates that hearing loss isn’t necessarily a problem that affects only older people. Consider the millennial generation, causes of hearing loss, and how they can be prevented.
A survey released in early February 2017 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control states that around 8 million people ages 20 to 29, or nearly 10 percent the entire millennial generation, suffer from some kind of hearing loss. This amounts to 7 percent of this age group who can’t hear high-pitched sounds. This figure goes up to 10 percent of people from ages 30 to 39.
Men More Than Women
Men, by far, notice hearing loss much worse than women. Once younger people have hearing loss, it gets progressively worse as people age. By comparison, around 68 percent of people ages 60 to 69 can’t hear high-pitched sounds. Although statistics favor showing hearing loss getting worse as people age, a good portion of younger people have hearing loss as well. The worst part of these statistics is that just 25 percent of the people surveyed realize they have hearing loss. You can’t fight against something if you don’t know it exists. What causes this hearing loss? The reasons may surprise you.
Causes
In previous generations, loud noises from workplace situations, such as machinery in factories, caused hearing loss. However, for millennials, the causes revolve more around what happens at home. Around half of the people in this survey don’t have noisy jobs.
Common Chores
Household chores might cause hearing loss when items reach 85 decibels for extended periods. Leaf blowers and lawnmowers, at around 90 decibels, can cause damage. Exposure to a leaf blower for two hours can cause damage to your ears.
Loud Music
Loud music also comes into play here. Just two minutes of a rock concert can cause damage at 110 decibels. A loud sporting event, that can reach 100 decibels, might cause hearing loss after just 14 minutes. It’s not just rock concerts that can cause damage. Listening to loud music or movies in headphones and earbuds, common accessories with portable music players and cell phones can lead to hearing loss when the volume reaches higher levels. Millennials and younger people love their portable music devices, but these technological advances in entertainment may bring their own problems with regard to ear damage. Luckily, there are ways to prevent hearing loss or keep hearing loss from getting worse. Most of these situations just need a little prevention and education.
Solutions
In terms of lawn mowing and blowing leaves, noise-canceling headphones and industrial-strength earplugs dampen noises. Use these appliances only when necessary, such as once a week for mowing lawns or once a month for blowing leaves. Yard work is important, but so is your hearing.
Turn it Down
For loud music, just turn down the volume or lower your devices max volume setting. You can hear music in your headphones and earbuds just fine without the volume maxed out. In terms of car audio, do the same thing by having the volume at manageable levels. Keep the volume down on your television as well.
Hearing Aids
Once you lose some of your hearing, it’s gone forever. Although your ears may not be the same, you have some technological help. Most people think of hearing aids when it comes to battling hearing loss. However, traditional hearing aids need a prescription from a doctor and can cost a few thousand dollars for a pair. Hearing aids must undergo intense programming and fine-tuning. An alternative having to go through the hassle of obtaining a prescription would be to utilize an over the counter hearing aid.
Improve Your Ability to Hear Certain Sounds
Otofonix hearing aids represent a way to improve your ability to hear certain sounds without spending a lot of money. These devices can improve how well you can hear as you try to listen to distant sounds or low sounds. And they fit in and around your ears much like a prescription hearing aid. Many models have preprogrammed settings that let you deal with common scenarios. These include noisy restaurants or places with loud background noise when you try to listen to someone in front of you.
Affordable Option
Over the counter hearing aids cost a fraction of traditional prescription hearing aids. The technology uses the same type of engineering behind pricier traditional prescription hearing aids, in that OTC hearing aids increase certain types of sound before it reaches your inner ear. Instead, you don’t need a prescription and you keep your costs down when you want to give your hearing a little boost.
Knowing the risks millennials face can help them prevent future hearing loss. Using an Otofonix hearing aid can help millennials who have difficulties hearing anything from telephone conversations to a lecture at work.
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