More than 5% of the world population has some degree of hearing loss, and unfortunately, our chances of experiencing hearing loss increase as we age: approximately one-third of people over the age of 65 have disabling hearing loss. With more older adults experiencing hearing problems, it should be no surprise that many of us accept hearing loss as a normal part of aging.
While age-related hearing loss is relatively common, that’s no reason to accept that your hearing can’t improve. Especially since your hearing can have a profound impact on your mental and physical well-being – there are proven links between deafness and social isolation – it’s well worth learning how you can hear better and live your life to the fullest.
Hearing Loss has the Potential to Impact Our Well-Being
Many people don’t want to accept the fact that they are experiencing hearing loss, but each day spent denying your hearing loss is another day that you may be negatively impacting your physical and mental well-being. In fact, as mentioned above, research has demonstrated a link between untreated hearing loss and social isolation, depression, and dementia.
One study demonstrated that the more severe the case of hearing loss, the more likely a person is to experience depression. Hearing loss most often leads to depression because it causes communication issues: when a person struggles to communicate with others, he’s more likely to withdraw from social situations and, in turn, experience depression.
Similarly, another study found that hearing loss may contribute to a person being diagnosed with dementia. Like depression, the fact that hearing loss often leads to social isolation, in addition to cognitive overload, can increase a person’s chances of experiencing memory-related issues.
These are serious health issues that can be mitigated with something as simple as better hearing. How much calmer would you be in your everyday life if you could hear well? How much happier would you be if you didn't have to say 'What?' constantly to those around you?
Many People Could Benefit from Improving their Hearing
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), over 37.5 million American adults have been diagnosed with some form of hearing loss. Of those Americans, the greatest amount of hearing issues occurs between ages 60 to 69. So, if you’re an older adult with hearing loss, you’re not alone. This is actually a prevalent issue in our society, and many people are embarrassed to own up to their hearing loss.
If you haven’t looked into hearing aids, you’re also not alone. The NIDCD notes that less than 30% of people over 70 with hearing loss have tried hearing aids. Most older adults wait 7 to 10 years to accept their hearing loss and purchase hearing aids. As a result, many people spend years missing the opportunity to hear better and improve their overall well-being.
You don't want to be in that statistic, especially when hearing aids are more affordable, convenient, and easy-to-use than they've ever been. People with hearing loss could improve their quality of life just by wearing hearing aids.
An estimated 28.8 million Americans would benefit from hearing aids. Research even suggests that wearing hearing aids can decrease depressive symptoms and delay dementia. So, why wait to start hearing and feeling better overall?
Why You Should Talk about Hearing Loss
Not being able to hear can cause us to forget how to enjoy some aspects of life. Watching your favorite movies, carrying on a conversation in a restaurant, or just talking about your day with your spouse, children, or friends may have become a strain due to your hearing problems.
We've discussed why you should wear hearing aids for your own health and well-being, but there are other reasons as well:
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High-frequency hearing loss, one of the most common types, often makes understanding the voices of women and children more difficult. Without hearing aids, you may have a hard time understanding your children or grandchildren.
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If you have trouble hearing, you’ve probably had a friend or family member become frustrated because you continually ask them to repeat themselves. With hearing loss, maintaining relationships and enjoying social activities requires more effort, and that means more effort for your friends and family as well. You can make life easier on them AND you by seeking help.
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In the workplace, communication is key. If you are trying to hide hearing problems, it can potentially affect your work performance and disrupt communication with your co-workers. This is especially true if you work in an environment with a lot of background noise.
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With hearing loss, you may experience frustrating inconveniences in your everyday life in addition to trouble communicating with others, like sleeping through the shrill sound of your alarm clock, not hearing the doorbell, missing the ring of the phone, and more.
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There are safety measures to take into consideration if you are hearing impaired. Will you hear the fire alarm or burglar alarm? If you babysit, will you hear a yell for help from a child or a baby crying? In addition to hearing aids, there are technologies you can use, like visual fire alarms or child monitors that vibrate or light up when a sound is made, to help you in such situations.
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Hearing loss occurs gradually, and you may not realize how much you're missing out on. Music. Birds singing in the morning. The rain pattering on the roof. Hearing aid wearers often report hearing sounds they hadn't heard in years. It may be a small thing, like the sound of the coffeemaker in the morning, but it can have an impact on the way you live your life.
If you’ve experienced any of these issues, you have more than one reason to start talking about your hearing problems and seek out the help of hearing aids.
Remember, the sooner you accept your hearing loss, the sooner you can start hearing better. And the sooner you can feel safe, secure and happy in your everyday life!
At Advanced Affordable Hearing, we want to help you hear at a price you can afford. To make it simple, our hearing aids are pre-programmed to the most common types of hearing loss, so you won’t need a formal hearing test to get started.
We offer a variety of affordable hearing aids, ranging from rechargeable options that don't require batteries to hearing aids that you can operate using a smartphone! We also have budget options that will help you hear clearly again without all the bells and whistles.
Just visit our Online Hearing Check, or call one of our friendly representatives at 1 (800) 804-0434, to discuss your options. We can help you order the hearing aid that’s right for you!
For more on the benefits of hearing aids in your life, read our posts: