Disclosure: collaborative post
There are a lot of variables when it comes to hearing loss. How much residual hearing is left and if the hearing loss was caused by genetics or environmental factors are two examples of how hearing loss affects everyone differently.
Residual hearing is an important consideration in finding the best hearing aid for offering the most natural sound. Women are statistically more likely to wear hearing aids. What causes this and other gender divides when it comes to addressing hearing loss?
Men are More Likely To Suffer From Hearing Loss
One aspect of hearing loss that doesn’t get a lot of attention is how hearing loss affects women in comparison to how it affects men. John Hopkins University studied the possible reasons why men are five times more likely to suffer some degree of hearing loss than women.
The findings look at environmental factors over biological ones, as babies are born with the same amount of hearing, regardless of gender. Environmental factors include working in jobs that have frequent exposure to loud noises and health issues more prevalent in men, such as heart disease.
Hearing Loss is Different In Women Than in Men
The types of hearing loss suffered by women and men are the complete opposite. Women are prone to low-frequency hearing loss while men more often suffer from high-frequency hearing loss. This means that men have difficulty hearing high-pitched noises while women have trouble understanding lower frequencies.
Given that women’s voices are generally high-pitched and men’s voices are deeper and lower, it’s no wonder the communication gap is so wide. Hearing aids can help bridge the gap, but only if the person suffering from hearing loss is willing to wear them. Unfortunately, many men are hesitant to do so. Why?
How Men and Women React to Hearing Loss Differently
Unfortunately, the stigma that men must never show weakness often extends to addressing hearing loss or other medical issues. Women are much more likely to tackle their hearing loss head-on and advocate for themselves.
Studies show that ignoring hearing loss can result in early onset dementia as well as depression. Hearing loss often results in isolation and loss of intimate connections due to the communication barrier.
Additionally, women are often more outgoing than men. Openly discussing their hearing issues and asking for accommodations can be easier for women than for the more stoic gender. The stigma of hearing loss often comes with a sense of shame or embarrassment, even though the hearing loss of some degree is extremely common, especially as we age.
Coping with Hearing Loss is Hard for Everyone
Hearing loss is hard for anyone – young, old, man, woman. The best way to cope with hearing loss is to address it ASAP by taking a hearing test and getting fitted for a hearing aid.
The assisted devices may be embarrassing to wear at first. But it’s nowhere near the same level as the embarrassment that comes with saying the wrong, often faux pas, thing in a conversation because you didn’t hear it correctly. Fortunately, as the year’s progress, there’s been a major advancement in hearing aid technology. There are now smaller and more discreet hearing aid models available in the market.
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