World Hearing Day: Why Women Should Pay Attention to Hearing and Self-Care

World Hearing Day is celebrated on March 3rd every year. It is the perfect time to discuss why women must focus on hearing health. Hearing, health, and self-care are all interwoven. Therefore, you need to prioritise your ears to avoid hearing loss. Women are caregivers by nature’s instinct, and they manage family responsibilities, work, and social obligations. These responsibilities make them ignore their health while they focus on others. You will be surprised to know that women are more likely to have hearing loss than men. This is the driving force for this blog post.

The Importance of Hearing Health for Women

Hearing loss affects 1.5 billion people worldwide, according to World Health Organization (WHO) reports. Women experience this condition more frequently during their ageing years due to hormonal changes and other health conditions. One-quarter of adults older than 65 years old have disabling hearing loss, and women face higher rates of such impairment. A large number of women remain ignorant about the dangers of hearing loss while missing the importance of seeking treatment as soon as possible. The lack of knowledge about hearing loss causes medical care delays, which makes their conditions more severe.

Why It is Important to Prioritize Your Hearing Health

1. Maintaining connections Often, a woman holds families and communities together, and her role is the bond. Staying connected is dependent on good hearing. As hearing deteriorates, life becomes full of misunderstandings and a lonely feeling, which is very painful for women who need social interaction to thrive. 2. Maintain your mental health Research shows a direct relationship exists between hearing loss and increased mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Caring for your hearing is caring for your mental health. 3. Impact on your career Communication is good in all career fields. Hearing problems can block your active participation in meetings and teamwork, which might result in negative career consequences. Good hearing enables women to succeed at their workplace and home responsibilities, as they often juggle several roles. 4. Early detection of hearing loss Hearing loss in women is more common because of factors such as hormonal changes and pregnancy. Early detection is possible through regular ‘checkups,’ and timely intervention and management can be afforded. 5. Improved quality of life Hearing health is essential for genuinely participating in daily activities like enjoying conversations and music. It also improves one’s quality of life and independence in general. 6. Safety Your safety depends on your proper hearing abilities. Hearing lets you detect vital sounds, including warning alarms and approaching vehicles. Good hearing health allows you to respond quickly to potential dangers.

How to Protect Your Ear Health

The following are practical measures you can take to protect your hearing health: 1 Get regular checkups Your annual checkups should include hearing tests as part of scheduled medical appointments. Medical diagnosis at an early stage creates a massive difference because it enables proper management of detected issues. 2. Protect your ears If you can avoid loud environments or possible loud environments, try to do so. Otherwise, wear ear protection. It is needed at concerts, sporting events, markets, and when using power tools at home. Your ears are so precious, so you should take the best care of them. 3. Educate yourself and others Educate your friends and family on hearing health. Raise awareness by holding formal and informal gatherings to speak on the importance of hearing health. Utilise the power of social media via posts, articles, videos, and so on. The more awareness we have, the more conscious we become about our hearing health. 4. Avoid high volumes It is best to keep your volume at moderate levels regardless of whether you are listening to your favourite playlist or catching up on a show. You should aim for the 60/60 rule: listen at no more than 60% of the loudest volume for more than 60 minutes. This gives your ears some time to rest. 5. Practice good ear hygiene Do not put objects such as cotton buds into your ear. This can push the earwax further in and potentially damage your eardrum. Clean your ears with a damp cloth while doing your regular hygiene routine.

Supporting Women with Hearing Loss

Today, we remember people with hearing loss. It is essential to provide support and create an inclusive environment. This can include: 1. Promoting accessibility Facilities should have hearing loops, captioning services, and other accommodations to benefit people with hearing impairments. 2. Encouraging communication Reducing background noise when talking to women with hearing disabilities will encourage others to participate in conversations. 3. Creating a supportive community Support groups and networks can be created to allow people with hearing loss to learn from and share their experiences, triumphs, and challenges with others. READ ALSO: Glow Up Goals: How to Reinvent Yourself in 2025 as a Lady World Hearing Day is a day to mark and practice ear health. It’s also a day to raise awareness about the risks of hearing loss, including the necessary steps to prevent it and support those affected. Remember that your ears are an integral part of your overall well-being. Follow these simple steps today to create a healthier future for ourselves and future generations.