Do You Take the Safety Risks of Hearing Loss Seriously?

Hearing loss is usually viewed as a personal inconvenience – being obligated to increase the volume of the television or radio, asking people to repeat themselves, and straining to catch every word of a conversation. But what about safety? Hearing loss can place both those who experience it, and others in their home and neighborhood in great danger.

Hearing well enough to get through everyday tasks, coupled with reluctance to deal with the stigma of hearing aids, leads many to delay treatment. In addition to other health risks associated with untreated hearing loss, it frequently compromises overall safety in situations where hearing is vital. Some people experience a wake-up call when related health problems surface or hearing declines to the point of losing the ability to function in daily life. Safety risks, on the other hand, cannot be counted on to provide any sense of warning. In an instant you could be facing serious injury or cause injury to others. Consider how these aspects of safety are compromised when you fail to address hearing loss.

How Hearing Loss Compromises Street Safety

Navigating busy streets – whether as a motorist, cyclist or pedestrian – is risky even with perfect hearing. Not only do you need to be able to hear louder noises like an approaching vehicle or the blare of a horn, but subtler sounds like the voices of others announcing their presence or warning you of danger. Nighttime travel poses increased dangers with hearing loss because you can’t compensate with eyesight. Motorists might not be using their headlights and pedestrians become especially hard to see.

Hearing Loss and Safety at Home

Home is a place of safety – no hazards, nothing to put your life in danger, right? On the contrary, hearing loss creates many new dangers within the confines of your house. What if you don’t hear the smoke alarm in time to get yourself and others to safety? Noise-induced hearing loss makes it difficult to register the higher pitches typical in these types of alarms, as well as weather alerts from broadcasters or the local fire department, not to mention voice pitches. What if you can’t hear a family member or neighbor’s weak cry for help? Even mild hearing loss creates these and other hazards within the relative safety of your home.

Hearing Loss and Safety at Work

Another setting that presents safety hazards when hearing is damaged is the workplace, especially if the environment contains heavy equipment and power tools. Even in a relatively safe office setting, not being able to hear someone coming around a corner could result in injury to both of you.

These and other dangers we encounter everyday can be easily avoided with healthy hearing. If you suspect hearing loss, don’t wait to find out what you might be missing, because it could cost your life. Show that you take these risks seriously by contacting a hearing clinic and scheduling an appointment for a full screening today.