Adrienne Tarnoff, hi HealthInnovations, Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist
Here are 10 simple facts you should read if you (or someone close to you) seem to be having trouble hearing.
- Hearing loss affects one in five people aged 12 and older, and is the third most common chronic medical condition among older Americans.
- Not being able to hear and understand can lead to increased anxiety, stress, and irritability.
- Relationships with spouse, family, and friends can be affected due to the frustration of not being able to communicate easily.
- People with untreated hearing loss are more likely to develop depression and dementia, in part due to withdrawing from social activities.
- People with untreated hearing loss are at greater risk for their safety, because they may not hear emergency sirens, smoke alarms, or someone approaching them from behind.
- People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop hearing loss, probably due to the diabetes damaging the nerves and blood vessels of the inner ear.
- Regular use and/or abuse of some medications can increase a person’s risk of hearing loss.
- Left untreated, hearing loss can lead to a decreased ability to understand speech. This is especially true for people with moderate to severe loss.
- The good news: over 90 percent of people with hearing loss can benefit tremendously from the use of hearing aids.
- Hearing testing is painless and may be covered by your health plan. Be proactive and tell your doctor that you might be experiencing a hearing loss. He may be able to refer you to a provider in your area. Be sure to have your results faxed to your doctor’s office so they can keep a record of your yearly testing results.
