The Golden Bachelor Wears Hearing Aids – Don’t Know if He Has Tinnitus

little boy wearing hearing aid; tinnitus concept

Hearing aids aren't often discussed without some embarrassment. Needing hearing aids is akin to letting your hair go gray; an acknowledgment of aging.

The Golden Bachelor, a reality dating show on ABC, stars stars 72-year-old Gerry Turner, a retired restauranter and widower, who is looking for love among 60- to 75-year-old contestants.

And when Turner told USA Today that it's "important" for fans to know that hearing loss is often part of aging and nothing to be ashamed of, he did a great service for people who wear hearing aids. In the interview, Turner said "I don't want anyone to feel like they have a disadvantage or that they have something to be a little embarrassed about."

He added "that there's nothing wrong with showing the signs of age, and said he didn't feel awkward about using hearing aids."

According to the National Institute for Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIH), nearly 30 million American adults need hearing aids -- but only about 16% of people between the ages of 20 and 69 use them. Citing statistics from the Hearing Loss Association of America, Forbes Health notes that the number is more like 48 million.

Although some people with hearing loss never develop tinnitus, hearing loss is strongly associated with tinnitus says the NIH. In fact, "hearing aids are one of the main treatment options for people with tinnitus who have hearing loss. They amplify external noises, allowing you to better engage with the world, while also making your tinnitus less noticeable."

And certainly not everyone who wears a hearing aid is old. The NIH says 2 to 3 children out of every 1,000 in the U.S. are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears.

As celebrities speak out about conditions like hearing loss and tinnitus, it will become more socially acceptable to wear hearing aids -- for both young and old.

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Can Allergies Cause Tinnitus?

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Some common medications can actually heighten the ringing and whistling noises in your head and ears. Tinnitus sufferers have found this out to their dismay, and warn others to be wary of large dosages (in excess of 600 mg) of Ibuprofen, for instance, and even to be careful when taking aspirin. In fact, there are people who insist that certain medications don't just make the condition worse, but can actually cause tinnitus. If you have tinnitus and are also taking antibiotics or other medications (even over-the-counter meds) for any medical condition -- running the gamut from arthritis to clinical depression (Prozac's frequently cited) -- let your doctor know. You should also monitor yourself with a daily record of medicines taken and tinnitus levels. You might be surprised to learn that some items known to worsen tinnitus include toothpastes (especially for sensitive gums), antacid tablets, Pepto Bismol, Kaopectate and Pepcid. Click here for a comprehensive list ...

Try Saline When Your Hearing Is Muffled After Loud Noise Exposure

If you've got temporary hearing loss or tinnitus after being at a loud concert or sports event, you may be able to fix it -- if you act fast. A 2021 Keck Medicine of USC study published in Science Daily has found that the nerve damage to the inner ear caused by loud noises is basically a build up of fluids. Treating that "fluid buildup with a readily available saline solution lessened nerve damage in the inner ear." A previous study by the same otolaryngologist showed that inner ear fluid level is not affected until noises reach 100 decibels, which is how loud a motorcycle is. "When researchers applied hypertonic saline, a salt-based solution used to treat nasal congestions in humans, into affected ears one hour after the noise exposure, both the immediate fluid buildup and the long-term nerve damage lessened, implying that the hearing loss could be at least partially prevented." The benefits of this knowledge are twofold: 1. If fluid buildup can be measured, ...

Tinnitus Help - Stop the Ringing in Your Ears

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