The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders says that 37.5 million1 adults live with hearing loss in the United States.

Although seniors are most susceptible to reduced hearing, even the youngest children can need treatment. However, living with hearing loss does not mean a quieter lifestyle. The professionals at HearingLife provide the hearing solutions you need to enjoy your best quality of life.

Are you living with hearing loss? Here’s the most important step

Hearing delivers vital information to the brain. Although hearing well is a key component of wellness, many people have trouble accepting it when they don’t hear well. That’s why the most important step is to acknowledge the fact that you have hearing loss. Otherwise, you can’t move on to seek treatment.

Denial is a barrier to success

It may take a long time before you're ready to accept this. In fact, studies show that Americans take 7-10 years2 from when they first notice trouble hearing until they get help. Remember that every journey begins with the first step. And once we've discovered the cause, there are many paths you can take to minimize the effects of hearing loss.

Although hearing loss affects people in different ways, many studies have linked untreated hearing loss to a number of serious emotional and social consequences: 3

  • Irritability, negativism and anger 

  • Tiredness, worry, stress and depression 

  • Avoidance or withdrawal from social situations 

  • Difficulties communicating with other people 

  • Social rejection and loneliness  

  • Reduced awareness and increased risk to personal safety 

  • Weakened memory and a decreased ability to learn new tasks 

  • Reduced performance at work or during education

Take a moment to see if you recognize yourself in some of these statements:

  • I often find people around me are mumbling and speaking softly 

  • I have to turn up the volume on my TV, radio and phone 

  • I can't hear what people are saying if they don’t look directly at me 

  • I often need to rest after work or school because I am so tired

  • I am often uncertain when I am out because I don’t know where sounds are coming from 

  • I have problems recognizing speech, especially at gatherings with other people 

  • I often feel depressed and lonely 

  • I think it’s very difficult to have a conversation in a crowded place 

  • I often have problems remembering what people say 

  • I feel that my family and friends are tired of repeating everything to me

If some of these symptoms and worries are familiar to you, it is important to seek help. They can all be related to hearing loss.

Living with hearing loss can impact your career

In addition to affecting your personal and social life, hearing loss can affects your daily life at work. You need to be able to communicate effectively wherever you are, and whomever you are with — be it your colleagues, clients or friends.

Hearing loss can significantly impact your earnings. More than a decade ago, the Better Hearing Institute estimated that untreated hearing loss could mean a reduction of $12,000 to household income.4

If you are suffering from hearing loss, your brain needs to work harder to pick out important sounds from the background noise. Office meetings, lectures and other everyday tasks can become more demanding and tiring, which can impact how well you perform tasks. Hearing aids can help you focus more easily, so you can concentrate with less effort.

Stay ahead at work

Emotional consequences

Most people with untreated hearing loss are vulnerable to serious emotional and social consequences. Hearing loss can make a person less tolerant and more irritable, and — if it's left untreated — it often leads to social isolation, low self-confidence, depression, anxiety, frustration and anger. It can even lead to paranoia. Research also clearly shows that people with untreated hearing loss are less likely to join social activities compared to those who wear hearing aids.

Hearing loss and dementia

Benefits of treatment

Fortunately for you or your loved one, it never has to get this far. As soon as the hearing loss has been acknowledged, you are no longer alone. Many first-time hearing aid users find they have increased mental energy, and experience significant improvements in many areas of their lives. These include their relationships at home, their ability to go out, and a sense of independence in both their social life and at work. Just as importantly, the families of hearing aid users notice these improvements too. Benefits include:

  • improved-relationships-circle_300x300

    Improved relationships at home

  • increase-social-engagement-circle_300x300

    Increased social engagement

  • gain-independence-circle_300x300

    Gain more independence

Valuable information for loved ones

Hearing loss impacts much more than an individual. Whether you are a family member, friend, neighbor or other loved one, we have tips and tools to build communication skills. Hearing loss can be frustrating. Let us help you communicate better and improve relationships stressed by misunderstandings. The professionals at HearingLife can educate you and your loved ones for lasting results.

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1 https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing
2 Hearing Loss Association of America
3 ASHA The Psychology of Hearing Loss
4 Kochkin, S. MarkeTrak VII: The Impact of Untreated Hearing Loss on Household Income. Better hearing Hearing Institute, Washington, D.C. (May 2007).