|
Hear
Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye??
Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent
chronic conditions in the United States today. According to
a recently-released survey by the National Council on the
Aging (NCOA), more than nine million persons age 65 or older,
more than 10 million persons age 45 to 64, and nearly 8 million
persons age 18 to 44, suffer from hearing loss.
Types of Hearing Loss;
Treatment
Hearing loss isn’t just a question of needing
to "turn the volume up." Hearing loss frequently
involves an inability to hear or distinguish certain pitches
or sounds (like s, t, f and th). People with hearing loss
may comment "I can hear you, I can’t understand you."
There are two basic types of hearing loss:
 |
Conductive
hearing loss involves the outer and middle ear. It can
result from blockage by wax, a punctured eardrum, birth
defects, ear infections, damage to middle ear bones
or heredity. Most conductive hearing loss can be corrected
with medicine or surgery, or aided with hearing aids. |
|
Sensorineural
or "nerve" hearing loss involves damage to
the inner ear. Among the causes are aging, infections,
heredity, exposure to loud noises, and use of certain
antibiotics and other drugs. It is most commonly managed
with a hearing aid. |
A hearing aid is an electronic device that picks up sound
waves with a microphone, and amplifies them. The better the
hearing aid, the better it will amplify the needed pitches
without amplifying others. A person must have some hearing
to benefit from a hearing aid. A cochlear implant (a surgical
procedure) may help those who cannot benefit from hearing
aids.
Untreated Hearing Loss
Common
According to the NCOA survey, about three out of five persons
age 65 or older, and six out of seven persons age 45 to 64,
with hearing loss do not obtain treatment (use hearing aids).
The survey asked respondents why they did not obtain treatment:
|
The
reason "my hearing isn’t bad enough" stood
out, even among those categorized as having more severe
loss (64%). |
|
The
expense of hearing aids was given as a reason by over
50% of all respondents. |
Other reasons given included: belief that hearing aids will
not help (33% of all respondents); not trusting hearing specialists
(25%); and stigma or negative appearance of wearing hearing
aids (16% to 20%).
Why Treat Hearing Loss?
Hearing aids don’t "cure" hearing loss. But they
can help people hear better, and live better. They may not
fix things totally, but they reduce the unconscious workload
of communication and relieve stress.
Focusing on the more severe hearing loss category, those
with untreated hearing loss are more than twice as likely
than those with hearing aids to report that "people are
angry with me for no reason." Those with untreated hearing
loss also reported higher levels of feeling insecure, worry
and anxiety, and sadness and depression.According to the NCOA
survey, most users of hearing aids reported significant improvements
in the quality of their lives since they began hearing aid
use.
Obtaining Treatment
Start with your regular doctor: see if the cause of your
hearing loss can be determined, and a treatment plan created.
Your regular doctor may refer you to a doctor specializing
in ear problems or in ear, nose and throat problems. Depending
on the results, your regular doctor or the specialist may
prescribe testing of your hearing by an audiologist or other
qualified hearing professional. If the work with your doctor
or specialist and the testing indicate that a hearing aid
or aids should be considered, a professional can work with
you to select, fit and adjust your aid or aids.
Not "One Size Fits
All"
The degree of "nerve" hearing loss and specific
ranges of pitch impacted can vary greatly from person to person
(sometimes even from ear to ear in the same person). This
heightens the need for individualized approaches, with careful
fitting and repeated efforts to adjust the aid to the individual’s
pattern of loss. Successfully adapting to hearing aids requires
patience and practice.
Purchasing Tips
|
Given
the need for individualized approaches, don’t purchase
a hearing aid through the mail or from a door-to-door
salesperson. |
|
Be
sure to obtain a meaningful trial period, with a minimal
or no charge if you return the product during the trial
period |
|
It’s
important to check the credentials, references, reputation
and record of the person doing the testing, and the vendor
you select. Check licensing information and complaint
history with the licensing body; ask for and check references;
check your local Better Business Bureau. |
The Council of Better
Business Bureaus (CBBB) advises:
|
In
selecting a hearing aid, do not be overly influenced by
price or the appearance of the aid. Avoid not only the
inexpensive aid of poor quality, but also the high-priced
inconspicuous aid if it does not amplify sound to your
satisfaction. |
|
Avoid
those vendors who only sell one type or brand of aid (no
manufacturer makes an aid that’s right for everyone). |
|
Find
out exactly what’s included in the price. For example,
are there separate charges for fitting? |
|
Watch
out for excessive and nonrefundable fees (like "restocking"
and "dispensing" fees). |
|
Know
whether the warranty is honored by the manufacturer or
the vendor. |
More Information
Tips On . . . Hearing Aids, CBBB publication #07-24-247,
can be ordered by sending $2 and a self-addressed, business-sized
envelope to the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Department
023, Washington, D.C. 20042-0023.
|
|
