Do you know someone who has trouble hearing but isn’t addressing it? Is that someone you?
Our new research reveals that four out of five Americans consider hearing loss serious, but ignoring the problem is more common than you may think.
Fewer than 16% of adults ages 20-69 who need a hearing aid use one. That number almost doubles to 30% for adults over age 70 who need a hearing aid but don’t use one, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.1 Overall, an estimated 38 million Americans have a hearing loss.2
Good hearing health is essential; it keeps us connected to the ones we love and the activities we enjoy. In recognition of World Hearing Day on March 3, take action to protect your hearing, and reach out to those you care about who may be hesitant to address their hearing loss.
You may have hearing loss that comes with age, or you may have a medical problem that needs immediate attention. You may just have wax in your ears! Regardless of the problem, there is likely a solution to improve your hearing.
On average, Americans wait 6 years to address hearing loss. They may be ignoring some of the signs of early hearing loss: Turning up the volume; asking “what?” more often; having trouble hearing children’s or women’s voices; or having trouble differentiating individual voices when a room is loud.
When should you start testing? If you are over 50, it’s recommended that you get your hearing tested every 3 years.3 At age 60, start getting tested annually. Like an annual physical, dental or eye exam, a hearing test needs to be part of our routine checkups.
Hearing loss is associated with higher rates of depression, dementia and falls that require hospitalization.4 Even mild hearing loss doubles the risk of dementia, moderate loss triples the risk and those with severe loss are five times more likely to develop dementia.5
Another problem associated with hearing loss is isolation. COVID has demonstrated how important staying connected is to our happiness and wellbeing. Good hearing increases social engagement, improves communication and lowers the risk of isolation and depression. Now more than ever, hearing well is a priority.
Advances in technology have made hearing aids smaller and more sophisticated. Worn in or behind the ears, hearing aids with Bluetooth can stream sound from a phone or TV directly into your ears. New processor technology can help amplify the sounds you want to hear and help mask tinnitus. Some hearing aids can adapt to your habits and environments to improve your hearing experience. Particularly helpful during the pandemic, new innovations enable some hearing aids to help you hear people who are wearing a mask.
Like other technology you use daily there is an upfront investment, so to demonstrate the true value, consider the cost per day over the life of the hearing aid. For a few dollars a day, you can stay connected and engaged. The investment on your hearing could even benefit your budget in the future since untreated hearing loss is associated with 46% higher total health care costs over a 10-year period.6
Check your insurance policy to see if hearing health is covered. Veterans can get hearing aids at no cost. While traditional Medicare doesn’t cover hearing health, most Medicare Advantage programs include a hearing benefit.
Thanks to advances in telehealth and technology, you can handle many hearing appointments from the comfort of your home. Because of COVID, many Americans are taking advantage of telehealth. Our research shows 42% of respondents used telehealth in the past year.
Your initial assessment and annual checkups need to be done in person, but if you opt for a hearing aid, many future appointments can be done remotely. Today’s hearing apps connect you with your audiologist so adjustments can be made without going into their office.
Today, people of all ages are using earbuds or headsets. With the pandemic, adults and kids are plugged in for hours at a time for phone calls, meetings, and schoolwork. Pay attention to the volume: Sounds above 85 dB can be harmful. Excessive noise exposure contributes to hearing loss, so protect delicate inner-ear hair cells against excessive noise by wearing protective noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs. Be proactive about your hearing wellness throughout your life.
Hearing can be one of those things we take for granted until something happens and then we realize its importance to our lives. The better strategy is to act now, before there is a problem.
It is easy to take action. Try out an online test, or better yet, locate a hearing professional near you and schedule an in-person hearing test for yourself, or someone you care about, today.
The Hearing Industries Association is the trusted voice on hearing health care for product innovation, public policy, patient safety and education.
