March 07, 2024

Still not treating Hearing loss?

You can end up getting Serious Complications!

Almost 1 out of 5 Americans aged 12 and older, 1 out of 3 Americans aged 65 to 74, and 2 out of 5 Americans aged 75 and older have hearing loss. The most common type of hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss, which typically occurs as the auditory nerve deteriorates with age. You can quickly assess your likelihood of having sensorineural hearing loss through the test below.

Ignoring hearing loss can lead to Serious Consequences beyond simply not being able to hear well, such as the onset of dementia due to cognitive decline, social isolation, and depression.

So what's the best way to manage hearing loss? It's hearing aids. Hearing aids are the most proven, affordable, and effective method for managing hearing loss.

If you want to learn more about this topic, we recommend reading this article to the end.
 

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How Common is Hearing Loss: Self-screening Test for Hearing Loss

Globally, hearing loss is a very common condition, and the U.S. is no exception.

There are 70 millions people with complete hearing loss in the world.

18% of people in the United States aged 12 years or older has hearing loss, based on National Center For Health's Statistics.

Age is a strong indicator of hearing loss as well, with 1 in 3 people between the ages over 65 having hearing loss. That number further increases to nearly 40% when considering those above the age of 75.

And Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common form of hearing loss, affecting roughly nine out of ten people with hearing loss.

Sensorineural hearing loss typically occurs as the auditory nerve deteriorates naturally with age, leading to difficulty in detecting high-frequency sounds.

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Quickly Check Your Hearing Status!

At this point, Check Your Hearing Age.

This is not a precise medical diagnosis but rather an approximation of your hearing status.

1nnov TV, "How Old Are Your Ears ? Hearing Test", Jan 24, 2023, Video, 2:00, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUmbmssqHOY 

Can't hear from

12,000 Hz?

Then, it can be said that your auditory system is likely entering its fifties, indicating you're highly likely to need immediate hearing care.

Still in denial about your hearing?

Check yourself against the following list to see how many symptoms apply to you.

This is not a medical diagnosis, but a compilation of common symptoms experienced by those with hearing loss. For an accurate diagnosis, it's recommended to visit your local ENT clinic for a hearing test.

1. Difficulty understanding primarily high-pitched sounds, such as women's or children's voices.

2. Struggle to fully comprehend conversations due to mixed background noise and speech.

3. Increased volume on TV or phone compared to before.

4. Particularly difficult to understand speech, especially during phone calls.

5. Paying more attention to the movements of the speaker's lips and gestures during conversations.

6. Occasionally experiencing ringing or buzzing sounds in the ears.

7. Frequently asking others to repeat themselves.

8. Noticing that my voice seems louder than before.

 " If you're experiencing two or more of these symptoms,there's a high probability that You're already experiencing Hearing Loss.

Think this level of hearing loss isn't serious?
Believe it's okay not to seek treatment?

If so, let me tell you

What might happen if you continue to neglect your hearing loss.    

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The Serious Consequences of Not Treating Hearing Loss

1. Dementia

Many studies have revealed the correlation between hearing loss and dementia, with Dr. Frank Lin and his colleagues at Johns Hopkins University stating that

"There is a positive correlation
between the degree of hearing loss and your risk of developing dementia."

The brain interacts with various senses and relies on their input for proper function. Hearing loss reduces auditory stimulation to the brain, leading to its Cognitial Decline. Specifically, hearing loss is known to significantly impact the brain's linguistic functions.

2. Social Isolation / Depression

This accelerated cognitive decline is further exacerbated by social isolation and depression.(Kramer SE et al 2002,122–137.)
People with hearing loss often struggle to hear and may repeatedly ask others to repeat themselves or pretend to understand when they don't.

Moreover, they may avoid disclosing their hearing loss to avoid embarrassment, leading to severed relationships with friends, acquaintances, and even family members. This ultimately reduces sensory input to the brain, accelerating cognitive decline.

Thus, hearing loss is not simply a matter of not being able to hear; it profoundly impacts our brains.

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To prevent this, Considering the use of hearing aids is a worthwhile option to explore.

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Why You Should Using Hearing Aids for Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss, especially sensorineural hearing loss that occurs with aging, is a type of hearing loss that is difficult to improve with surgical procedures.
Specific drug treatments also have virtually no effect on age-related hearing loss, as it is caused by the aging of the auditory nerve itself.

The medications used primarily address physical issues occurring in the pathway through which sound is transmitted, known as Conductive Hearing Loss, rather than addressing issues with the auditory nerve itself.

However, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, people in the US do seek treatment, but an average of 7-10 years passes before they are fitted with a hearing aid and effectively treated. (MultiCare Health System 2020)

Unfortunately, by the time this much time has passed and you're ready to use a hearing aid, not only is the effectiveness very limited, but there's also a high likelihood that your only option would be very expensive hearing aids (over $4,000 for one side).

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Don't delay managing your hearing loss any longer.

Managing it from now can help you lead a happier and healthier old age.

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Source

National Center for Health Statistics. Percentage of Any Difficulty Hearing for Adults Aged 18 and Over, United States, 2019–2022.
National Health Interview Survey. Found on the internet at https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NHISDataQueryTool/SHS_adult/index.html

United Nations. Sign Languages Unite Us! Found on the internet at https://www.un.org/en/observances/sign-languages-day

Goman, Adele M., et al. Addressing Estimated Hearing Loss in Adults in 2060. JAMA – Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. July 2017.
Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5824202/

1nnov TV, "How Old Are Your Ears ? Hearing Test", Jan 24, 2023, Video, 2:00, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUmbmssqHOY

National Center for Health Statistics. Percentage of Any Difficulty Hearing for Adults Aged 18 and Over, United States, 2019—2022. National Health Interview Survey.
Found on the internet at https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NHISDataQueryTool/SHS_adult/index.html

Kramer SE, Kapteyn TS, Kuik DJ, Deeg DJ. The association of hearing impairment and chronic diseases with psychosocial health status in older age. J Aging Health. 2002;14(1):122–137. DOI: 10.1177/089826430201400107

“Hearing loss”, National Health Service, December 6, 2021, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hearing-loss/

“How Do I Know if I Have Hearing Loss Caused by Loud Noise?”, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 24, 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/how_do_i_know_if_i_have_hearing_loss.html

Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Hearing Aids”, accessed March 14, 2024. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/hearing-loss/hearing-aids

Watson, Stephanie. “How Much Do Cochlear Implants Cost In 2024?”. Forbes Health, March 6, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/health/hearing-aids/cochlear-implants-cost/

Stanford Ear Institute. “Conductive Hearing Loss”. Stanford Ear Medicine, accessed March 14, 2024. https://med.stanford.edu/ohns/OHNS-healthcare/earinstitute/conditions-and-services/conditions/conductive-hearing-loss.html

MultiCare Health System. "Hearing loss: the importance of early treatment and the risks associated with waiting". Multicare Vitals. October 26, 2020, https://www.multicare.org/vitals/hearing-loss-the-importance-of/