Hearing

FACTS

• Nearly 2/3 of adults over age 70 have hearing loss.
• 15% of American adults have significant hearing loss.
• Hearing loss is more common among men, especially at younger ages.
• Hearing loss can contribute to memory loss:
  • The temporal lobe, which is responsible for processing hearing and is involved with memory, is less stimulated and loses function
  • There is increased rate of brain cell decline
  • Difficulty processing sound and speech takes extra brain resources that will not be available for other tasks such as memory
  • Not hearing conversations leads to social isolation and memory decline
• The more prolonged and/or severe the hearing loss, the higher the risk of memory impairment and dementia.

CAUSES OF HEARING LOSS

• Aging
• Genetics
• Excessive noise exposure, especially repeated loud sounds
• Medications
  • Chronic use of over-the-counter pain relievers
  • Chronic use of some antibiotics
  • Some chemotherapy drugs
• Head injury
• Chronic ear infections

TREATMENT FOR HEARING LOSS

• Myths about hearing aids
  • “My hearing’s not that bad.”
    • Many hearing aid-users wait 10 years before addressing hearing loss which may result in increased health risks and limited communication with others.
  • “Wearing hearing aids means I’m old, and I’m not ready for that.”
    • Many people fear looking old.
  • “I don’t like the way hearing aids look.”
    • Hearing aids are smaller and less noticeable than they once were. The whistling once associated with hearing devices is no longer present.
  • “I heard that hearing aids are difficult to use.”
    • Hearing aids are easy to insert but usually require a short time period to adjust. Most retailers offer a trial period to make sure the user can adjust to the change.
  • “Hearing aids cost too much.”
    • Hearing aids are becoming increasingly affordable, especially when purchased from membership warehouses, who provide the benefit of volume sales.

FACTS ABOUT HEARING LOSS

• An appointment with an audiologist is recommended to evaluate hearing loss and the need for hearing aids.
• New technologies have created hearing aids and adapters that can:
  • Act as a microphone for table conversation
  • Serve as an amplifier for television volume that does not affect others in the room
  • Offer the ability to listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, phone calls, and GPS directions directly through the device