Men’s Health Week is observed each year in the month of June. If you look outside your window, you will quickly remember it is not June. However men’s health can be observed all year long, including hearing health.
Why Hearing is Important
Many studies have shown that hearing loss, especially untreated hearing loss, can have a negative impact on the quality of life; everything from relationships with friends and loved ones, to earning power on the job. And the number don’t lie, hearing loss is more common in men then women.
Some quick stats for men and hearing loss:
- 61% of hearing loss occurs in men
- 43% of hearing loss occurs in people older than 65.
- Older men experience hearing loss more frequently than senior-aged women.
- Hearing loss is often caused by long-term exposure to loud noise.
- Hearing loss is cumulative. It gets worse as men are exposed to loud noise over time.
Hearing loss among the male population can be caused by a single factor or a combination of factors. Common contributors to hearing loss in men include: exposure to loud noise over a long period of time, ear wax build up, damage to the inner ear, normal aging, disease (such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease) and ototoxic medications.
Men are more likely to be exposed to loud noise in the workplace and even around home as millions of weekend warriors trim the grass without any sort of ear protection. Men are more likely to be around loud machinery, loud music and other sources of noise that, over time, lead to noise induced hearing loss or NIHL.
Because hearing loss is often gradual, it also goes undetected in many cases. In fact, you’re more likely to discover hearing loss when family, friends and co-workers point out that “you should have your hearing tested.” Well-intentioned, good advice.
A hearing test is your best bet in determining if you do in fact have hearing loss.
To learn more about the effects of hearing loss on men’s health, visit: Men’s Health Week: Get a Hearing Test.
