Sometimes we have patients come in for their first hearing test and they ask us, “Am I too young to have a hearing loss?” 

It’s an understandable concern to have – after all, most hearing loss challenges are associated with getting older. However, hearing loss challenges affect more than just your average grandparent. 

Remember all the nightclubs and concerts you left with ringing ears? Or maybe you worked in construction for many years, and the booming of equipment used made your ears feel stuffed up with cotton on your commute home.  

There are more ways to damage hearing than just getting older, and with noise exposure on the rise, more and more young people are coming to see us about hearing loss challenges and how to treat them. 

How Did I Get a Hearing Loss? 

There are a few different ways that people acquire hearing loss; while age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, is the most common form, it’s not the only one. 

Some people have a genetic predisposition to get hearing loss; if an individual’s parents or grandparents wore hearing aids, there’s a high chance that they’ll have some degree of hearing loss themselves. Also, 50%-60% of hearing loss in babies is genetic; sometimes, hearing loss is in our genes. 

External factors can lead to hearing loss as a side effect. Infections and some diseases like Meniere’s disease can lead to hearing loss as well as adverse effects from certain medications. These often affect babies and small children as they grow. 

The second most common form of hearing loss is due to noise exposure. Noise-induced hearing loss happens when you listen to loud noise for a prolonged period of time, like at a concert, a full restaurant or even music from your personal headphones. 

However, we see hearing loss as a good sign. You’ve been living a busy, fulfilling life with some loud noises along the way like at live events, full tables for dinner or even just an exciting professional life. It’s not a sign that you’re getting old; it’s a sign that you’re getting lots of fun out of each day! 

Hearing loss can be a struggle to deal with, and if left untreated, it can lead to several negative side effects – but if you’re here and wondering if you could use a boost to your hearing, then you’re already on the right track. 

How Maico Hearing Service Can Help 

If you’ve read this far and you think that hearing care could be the right option for you, we’re happy to help you take those first steps on your hearing health journey.

Our professional and passionate team of audiologists is well-equipped to take on any hearing challenge you’re facing.  

Even just one comprehensive hearing assessment can help you establish a baseline of what your current hearing is like, and you can keep an eye (or an ear) on it to see how it changes as time passes to see what you need to treat your hearing challenges in the long run. 

For questions you’d like answered or concerns about your specific situation, please feel free to request a callback – a member of our team will get in touch with more information. 

Alternatively, you can find your closest clinic and contact us over the phone.