Boomers and Beyond - Summer 2016

Facts About Hearing Aids

August 10, 2016

TAB_07More than 360 million people have disabling hearing loss, according to February 2013 research released by the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO). Here are five more startling facts about hearing loss to consider:

  1. Approximately 12 percent of the U.S. population, or 38 million Americans, have a significant hearing loss. (Center for Hearing and Communication)
  2. One in every three people over the age of 65 – a total of 165 million people worldwide – lives with hearing loss (World Health Organization)
  3. People with hearing loss wait an average of seven years before seeking help. (Center for Hearing and Communication)
  4. A 12-year study conducted by the neurology department at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine found that untreated hearing loss increased the risk for dementia.
  5. Only one out of every five people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually wear one. (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)

Nearly all people who have experienced a long and healthy marriage will agree that good communication is key to a successful partnership. A marriage is much more rewarding when two people can both confidentially communicate. Yet, with nearly 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 suffering hearing loss, this ability to clearly communicate is often put to the test.

In fact, a 2009 study from Britain shows that some failing marriages can be attributed to untreated hearing loss. The survey of 1,500 hearing-impaired people over 55 revealed that:

– Almost one in two (44 percent of people) said that relationships with their partner, friends or family had suffered because they can’t hear properly.

– A third (34 percent) have lost touch with friends, and in some cases seen marriages fall apart, as a direct result of the breakdown in communication caused by hearing loss.

Being able to properly hear and communicate with your spouse is certainly worth getting your hearing checked! And with a wide variety of hearing aid styles and technologies available, there is no excuse to not get your hearing checked. If you are noticing signs of hearing loss, contact Manhattan Avenue Hearing Aids, Inc. with offices in Greenpoint, Brooklyn; Lynbrook, L.I. and the West Village in Manhattan. Call 917-856-2703 to schedule an appointment.