Did you know hearing loss is much more common in men, rather than women! But why is this?

Now, I’m sure you all have your theories as to why this might be and have heard the typical cliché or joke: “My partner’s the reason I’m going deaf!”. But, various studies do show that the most common factor for hearing loss in men is what’s called industrial deafness.

Industrial deafness is usually acquired by working in heavily male dominated industries such as construction or factory work where it is quite noisy or operation of machinery is occurring on a regular basis. Surprisingly, even long distance truck drivers can suffer hearing damage by having the window down and the wind blowing past their ears for long durations.

And it’s not just loud noises or constant noise that can cause issues. There is some concern that hearing loss and tinnitus can be caused by certain medications, in particular aspirin and ibuprofen. Both drugs are often recommended to treat aches and pains and very commonly, headaches. Some blokes will joke that this is a catch-22 situation. They say their wives are constantly nagging them and so they take aspirin for the subsequent headache that causes!

The truth in this may in fact be that the ‘nagging’ may simply be due to the male partner suffering from hearing loss and can’t hear. So the wife has to repeat herself. The flipside of this of course is the frustration that comes from living with, or being around someone with hearing loss. It can become a very lonely time for both parties and distance between one another can be unintentionally created often leading to further health issues as well as depression or feeling isolated.

Prevention of hearing loss is important for both men and women and can be as easy as ensuring safety equipment is worn at work and wherever appropriate. Other areas of prevention within the household and between partners however, may be somewhat out of depth for an audiologist! If prevention has failed and someone you know does suffer from any form of hearing loss there are answers.

Treatment of hearing loss, such as the fitting of hearing aids, often result in reports of better quality of life and even lower levels of depression. There are so many options available to suit specific lifestyles and personal needs. There are aids that are invisible as they sit further in the ear and some that connect to electronic devices such as a mobile phone or home television making for easier living. In many cases, these can be fitted all in one appointment with your audiologist.

It is commonly a spouse or family member who is first to recognise a hearing impairment so, next time there’s miscommunication as to who was going to do the dishes, or ‘I didn’t hear you ask me to mow the lawn’, there’s probably some truth in it. Save the headaches by seeking help and advice for one of the most frustrating health issues we all must face from your qualified audiologist.