Because of this and the reluctance to accept aging, people wait 7 to 10 years on average before they get a hearing assessment.
This makes me so sad when I know how much they’ve missed out on and how they might have prevented additional damage to their hearing by getting help.
The World Health Organization’s statistics on hearing health says that 466 million adults and children have a disabling hearing loss that should be corrected with hearing rehabilitation.
I believe that these numbers would be a lot lower if people knew what to look out for and if they got diagnosed and treated early on.
Hearing Loss Is More Common Than You Might Think
Hearing loss is so common in the US.
A recent Occupational Hearing Loss (OHL) survey found that after hypertension and arthritis, hearing loss is the third most common chronic physical condition in the US.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) says, “about 2 percent of adults aged 45 to 54 have disabling hearing loss. The rate increases to 8.5 percent for adults aged 55 to 64.
Nearly 25 percent of those aged 65 to 74 and 50 percent of those who are 75 and older have disabling hearing loss.”
This makes it highly likely that at least one person in anyone’s family will have some degree of hearing loss that should be assessed and treated.
Importance of Hearing
Being able to hear clearly means you can communicate with ease, perform well at work, and enjoy all of your relationships with loved ones, grandchildren, and friends.
You can talk for hours on the phone, enjoy social events, and participate in any sport you like without putting yourself in danger from not being able to hear clearly.
These connections enrich your physical and mental health and ensure you maintain your independence and quality of life.
Not treating hearing issues quickly can mean that the damage to your hearing system continues, and you miss out on those connections more and more.
Hearing loss can affect your work performance, and deciding to withdraw from socializing can lead to depression.
Check Your Hearing
Based on the numbers above, you have a 1 in 4 likelihood of having some measure of hearing loss if you are 65 or older.
But no matter how old you are, you might have some hearing loss if:
- You think people are mumbling.
- You have to ask people to repeat what they say quite often.
- You like to turn the TV volume up.
- You find it hard to follow a conversation, especially if there’s interfering background noise.
- You work in a loud-noise environment.
- You have tinnitus – ringing or buzzing in the ears.
I don’t want anyone to miss out on the ability to hear clearly, so it’s important to me to know you are fully aware of any hearing deficit you might have so you can address it quickly.
Schedule your hearing consultation with me today. It’s quick and non-invasive, and I can go over the results with you right away.
Better hearing leads to a better life, and I would love to help you and your loved ones achieve just that.
