Apr 29, 2024
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Lori Lovato MA, FAAA, Audiologist
Are You Too Young to Have Hearing Loss?
Perhaps you’ve noticed some struggles hearing recently. Someone says something to you and you have to ask for repetition, or you don’t hear them entirely. Perhaps the music you listen to is more muffled, or you have to turn up the volume on the TV at night.
But you’re not too worried—after all, you’re “too young” to have hearing loss. Or so you thought.
We often get individuals come in to visit us about hearing loss who ask, “Am I too young to get hearing loss?” It’s a valid question to ask; after all, when you think of hearing loss, you might be thinking of your grandparents, or even great-grandparents.
From exciting concerts and live events to blasting music from headphones, busy restaurants, and booming construction work sites, noise exposure can affect anyone of any age—and hearing damage can affect anyone, no matter their age.
You’re never too young to have some form of hearing loss challenge. The question is, what do you do once you’ve realized you have it?
How Did I Get Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss can affect us due to a myriad of reasons.
Age-related hearing loss is the most common way that many older people realize they have hearing loss challenges, but for a lot of younger individuals, hearing loss can affect them much sooner in life.
For some, it’s genetic; if your parents or grandparents wore hearing aids, there’s a good chance that you’ll have hearing loss at some point as well. In babies, 50-60 percent of hearing loss is genetic.
Some people acquire hearing loss later in life, due to medication issues, infection, or accidents due to loud noise exposure. Some medical conditions can also cause hearing loss.
Hearing loss can affect anyone, regardless of their age. So, to answer your initial question: No, you’re never too young to acquire some form of hearing loss challenge.
How Do I Treat My Hearing Loss Challenge?
We all get our eyesight tested, our teeth cleaned, and our physical health checked each year, but when was your last hearing test?
With the help of professional hearing care and regular comprehensive hearing tests, you can understand your range of hearing and see what you need to succeed.
Hearing loss has long been linked to various negative conflicts with the rest of your body, including balance disorders, dementia, cognitive decline, and more. By treating your hearing loss, you can avoid those conflicts.
Hearing loss can affect anyone—what matters is how you go about remedying it.
How Highline Hearing Can Help You
If you or a loved one has noticed some struggles hearing recently, and you finished this article and thought that perhaps hearing care could help, congratulations! You’re already on the first steps toward better hearing for life.
Feel free to request a callback from us—we’re happy to call you for a friendly conversation about your questions and concerns, or to give advice about your unique circumstances.
If you’d rather not wait, you can call our office at (206) 246-8677.
Lori Lovato MA, FAAA, Audiologist
Lori is a lifelong resident of the Tri-Cities. She and her husband Anthony are proud to be raising their family here. She attended Washington State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing sciences and her master’s degree in audiology. Lori began practicing audiology in the Tri-Cities in 1993. During this time, she has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including private practice and ear, nose, and throat physicians’ offices. She has spent her career focused on assisting those with hearing difficulties through the use of hearing aids, listening strategies, assistive devices, and counseling. She is experienced in working with both adult and pediatric patients. It is important to Lori to develop close relationships with each and every patient, as she helps them develop better communication strategies to live a fuller life.
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