Myths about Hearing Loss

Do you have hearing loss? You may not even know it. Hearing loss often starts slow and develops overtime, meaning it often sneaks up on people. Unfortunately, hearing loss is commonly undertreated. Troubling statistics show that for adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30 percent) has ever used them. Even fewer adults aged 20 to 69 (approximately 16 percent) who could benefit from wearing hearing aids have ever used them. Part of the issue is that there are a lot of misconceptions around hearing loss and stigmas which keep people from getting the life enhancing treatment they need. Here are some common myths around hearing loss and the truth you need to act and schedule your next hearing exam with confidence today!

Myth: Hearing loss affects only older adults.

Truth: Age related hearing loss, often referred to as presbycusis, is the most common cause of hearing loss. It occurs due to changes in our ears as we age, but it is not necessarily a normal part of aging. A healthy lifestyle including regular exercise and a balanced diet in conjunction with safe listening habits can make a big difference in protecting your hearing. The risk of hearing loss goes up exponentially as we advance through the years. For instance, for those 65 years and older, one in three have hearing loss, but within ten years, one in two of those 75 and beyond are affected. 

Still, hearing loss can occur at any point in our lives. In fact, statistics find that 1 in 5 children ages 12 to 19 show some sign of hearing loss in one or both ears. Meanwhile The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of hearing loss “due to the unsafe use of personal audio devices, including smartphones, and exposure to damaging levels of sound at noisy entertainment venues such as nightclubs, bars, and sporting events.” While we can do our best to protect our hearing now, we want to acknowledge that mistakes happen. While hearing loss is irreversible, seeking treatment now is essential to improving your hearing at any stage in life.

Myth: Hearing loss doesn’t affect the rest of my health.

Truth: Not only is hearing loss tragically underdiagnosed, but it is often undertreated. Many people make the mistake of thinking they can get by just fine without addressing a hearing loss. The problem is that even if you don’t realize hearing loss is affecting your health in many ways. Studies have connected hearing loss to a wide range of health concerns including cognitive decline, dementia, falls, social isolation, and depression. In addition, the emotional impact of untreated hearing loss starts to affect every aspect of your relationships, mood and likeliness to try new things.

Myth: Hearing aids are like glasses.

Truth: When one puts on a pair of glasses, vision instantly can be corrected to 20/20. It’s amazing—unfortunately hearing aids take a little more dedication to get to the place where it becomes easier to communicate and stay confident in the world. After years of not fully hearing, amplified hearing with hearing aids may feel loud. Your brain may not know how to process sounds it hasn’t had to hear for years at first. Start by wearing them for just a short time in your home and branch out over two weeks. Ideally at this point we urge you to build up to wearing your hearing aids everywhere you go. After a year of dedicated use, the satisfaction rate for hearing aids has scored 91 percent!

Myth: I don’t need hearing aids since my hearing is mostly fine.

Truth: It’s common to think you can hear just fine, but even if you aren’t aware of your hearing loss doesn’t mean it’s not affecting a wide range of aspects of your life from your cognitive capabilities, work, relationships at home, and social life. Catching a hearing loss early not only helps prevent these very dangerous side effects of hearing loss but will help you feel more confident in every aspect of your life. To find out if it’s time for you to try hearing aids, don’t hesitate to schedule your next hearing exam with us today!