Untreated Hearing Loss Is Not A Benign Condition
Why 22 million Americans delay trying a hearing device to solve their hearing problem
Inadequate Information. Most people lose hearing gradually and may not realize they have significant loss. Your family and friends adapt by speaking to you more loudly and clearly.
Stigma and Cosmetics. Some people reject hearing aids because they are concerned of what other’s will think. This does not need to be a barrier to improving your hearing. With advances in technology your hearing solution can be nearly invisible to others. Once your quality of life is improved, cosmetics will be of less concern to you. Not Realizing the Importance of Hearing Another reason for rejection of hearing aids is that people have forgotten how important hearing is to their quality of life. However, untreated hearing loss can lead to anxiety, stress, fatigue, withdrawal from family and friends, impaired memory, reduced alertness and personal safety, reduced job performance and earning power and diminished overall health. Cost. Your hearing solution will be based on your type of loss and lifestyle. Many factor’s go into your hearing aid purchase and will affect the price. Which type and style is best for you? What features do you need? What’s included in the price? (Warranty, 30-day trial period, Free cleaning and adjustments). Your hearing health care provider should present to you clear and easily understood pricing options as well as financing options. Be sure to freely ask any questions that will help you make an informed decision.
The links between hearing loss and dementia
Seniors who have untreated hearing loss may be at an increased risk for developing dementia, a loss of brain function that can affect memory, thinking, language, judgment and behavior. This is the finding of a study conducted by researchers from the Division of Otology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The study included 639 people whose hearing and cognitive abilities were tested over a period of time, starting in 1990 and concluding in 2008. Researchers found that study participants who had hearing loss at the beginning of the study were significantly more likely to develop dementia by the end of the study. How might hearing loss and dementia be connected? Investigators aren’t sure, but they think a common pathology may underlie both conditions, or possibly the strain of decoding sounds over the years may overwhelm the brains of people with hearing loss, leaving them more vulnerable to dementia. The article concludes that, whatever the cause, these findings may offer a starting point for further research as to whether interventions, even as simple as hearing aids, could delay or prevent dementia by improving patients’ hearing.