Time to listen to the warning signs on effects of hearing loss

Hearing loss is a big health issue that is often neglected, says Myra Ng

WHAT will be the lasting effects of the pandemic on Australians? This is a question weighing heavily on many people’s minds. As a Tasmanian-based accredited audiologist, one element that I feel many overlook is health maintenance, or more precisely, people neglecting their health needs when it comes to conditions they consider to be less serious.

The drop in health checks is a trend noted by health professionals across a range of therapeutic areas, with people over the past year actively avoiding healthcare settings. Among my peers we saw drops and fluctuations in the number of people coming into our clinics throughout 2020. Even prepandemic, hearing checks were not often seen as a priority. I often hear patients say that age-related hearing deterioration is natural, and so there is not much that can be done. This has a bigger impact on our health than many people realise.

Half of Australians between ages 61 to 70 have symptoms of hearing loss. This is particularly significant in our state, as it is estimated that by 2030, one in four Tasmanians will be over the age of 65. The situation worsens as projections show that prevalence of hearing loss across all age groups is expected to more than double by 2060.

Any hearing impairment directly affects a person’s ability to communicate which can flow on to impact relationships. A recent study found that hearing-impaired participants and their close partners were saddened by the loss of spontaneity in conversations. Hearing issues can also affect intergenerational communication and relationships, creating barriers and distance due to communication breakdown. According to person perception studies, hiding a hearing problem may lead people to evaluate an

individual as being less competent.

Hearing loss is linked to a number of mental health impacts such as an increased risk of depression and anxiety.

It has also been linked to a number of physical conditions. There is a growing body of research showing an association between agerelated hearing loss and dementia. People with mild symptoms of hearing loss may be twice as likely to develop dementia compared to those with healthy hearing. This increases to five times more likely for those with severe hearing loss. Researchers report that patients with lowfrequency hearing loss should be regarded as “at risk” for cardiovascular events and the link between hearing loss and diabetes is well-established. For older Australians, the odds of having a fall increases two to three times with mild hearing loss and continues to rise with its severity.

The longer we go without embedding regular hearing checks into our routine as a state and as a country, the larger the impact may become. A big part of the problem is lack of understanding and misinformation surrounding diagnosis and pathways for getting help.

Audiology Australia, the peak national representative body for audiologists, has created a new online search tool to make it easier for people to find an accredited audiologist.

Being conservative with our health should be our priority, as early detection gives us advantages in having more successful treatments.