This holiday season, give yourself the gift of better hearing.
Untreated hearing loss affects numerous aspects of a person’s life. Many people try to ignore the signs of hearing loss but oftentimes, the far reaching effects are unavoidable. Hearing loss results in more than just saying “what”: multiple studies have shown it correlates with social isolation and even depression! It can negatively affect a job performance, relationships, and even a person’s overall health. So, knowing what we do about the impact of hearing loss, why do people put off a trip to the audiologist’s office?
Due to the insidious nature of hearing loss, many people may ignore their increasingly worse hearing. Hearing impairment is often a gradual progression, making the person less likely to seek treatment. While they may try to ignore and adapt to the hearing loss, it is all too apparent to the people around them.
It is well known that hearing loss is often seen as a person ages. In fact, hearing loss is one of the most common chronic conditions of aging. The incidence of hearing loss doubles with every ten years of increasing age. Research has shown that almost two thirds of those 70 years or older have a significant hearing impairment (Archives of Internal Medicine , 2011).
Similar to the correlation between aging and hearing loss, there is also an association between hearing loss and depression. A study by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) showed that persons aged 50 or over with untreated hearing loss had greater levels of anxiety, depression, and even paranoia than their normal hearing peers. A 2012 study by AARP showed that more than half of the participants surveyed had untreated hearing loss.
A different study on the same topic showed that women over the age of 70 are particularly at risk for depression related to hearing loss (March 6, 2014, JAMA Otolaryngology). Across all groups studied, the greater the (untreated) hearing loss, the greater the risk for depression.
It is easy to see the connection between untreated hearing loss and depression: those with a hearing impairment are more likely to withdrawal from social situations and experience greater anxiety. These repercussions on the person’s quality of life is what makes seeking treatment so important. Thankfully, though,the newest technologies can help a person reconnect to the world. Hearing aids can enable a person to once again the hear the conversation around them. Being able to hear well means being able to communicate and engage with loved ones well.
So, knowing all of this, clearly the best gift you can give this holiday season (to yourself or someone you love) is a hearing test. A hearing test is the first step on the journey of better hearing!
SOURCES: JAMA OtolaryngologyHead & Neck Surgery, Archives of Internal Medicine 2011; 171 (20):18511852);
ChuanMing Li, M.D., Ph.D., researcher, U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders;
Robert Frisina, Ph.D., director, Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research, and professor of chemical and biomedical engineering and communication sciences and disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa;
James Firman, Ed.D., president and CEO, National Council on Aging; March 6, 2014.