UNDERSTANDING
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss impacts all aspects of your life
Hearing plays a major role in our quality of life, from our emotional well-being and physical health to our careers and leisure activities.
Yet millions of people who have hearing loss let it go untreated, despite research showing links between untreated hearing loss and increased risk of falls, depression, anxiety, hospitalizations and even dementia.
Hearing Loss Facts
- 1 in 6 adults have hearing loss
- Hearing loss affects nearly 750 million adults worldwide
- 500 million people under 65 suffer from hearing loss
- 2/3 of adults over 70 have hearing loss
Recognizing Hearing Issues
Most of the time hearing problems begin gradually without discomfort or pain. What's more, family members often learn to adapt to someone’s hearing loss without even realizing they are doing it.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine whether you have hearing loss.
- Do I / they often ask people to repeat themselves?
- Do I / they have trouble following conversations with more than two people?
- Do I / they have difficulty hearing what is said unless facing the speaker?
- Do I / they struggle to hear in crowded places like restaurants, malls and meeting rooms?
- Do I / they have a hard time hearing women or children?
- Do I / they prefer the TV or radio volume louder than others?
- Do I / they experience ringing or buzzing in my ears?
- Does it sound like other people are mumbling or slurring their words?
Hear Better. Live Better.
When we hear our best, there’s nothing stopping us from enjoying the sounds of laughter, music, nature or conversations with family and friends. Hearing these sounds help fuel us, and undeniably make moments more memorable and life more enjoyable.
More than anything else, hearing keeps us connected to the world around us. Whether it’s communicating with friends and family, interacting with colleagues, enjoying a recital, movie or TV show, or waking up to birds singing outside your window, when you hear better, you simply live better.
But when hearing is impaired, those connections, interactions and moments can be muted and strained, which has an impact on our quality of life.
- Missing a grandchild’s first words or a family dinner story
- Feeling left out of a conversation or a good joke
- Limiting once-fun social activities
- Feeling less independent, less confident and less secure
- Frustrating loved ones with constant requests to repeat what was said
- Not living life to the fullest because hearing loss is holding you back