Locate a vision and hearing specialist in your city and state with our Find a Specialist locator.
03-21-2011
Researchers in Madison, Wisconsin have discovered that 14% of middle-aged Americans have some sort of hearing loss. For those aged 48 to 59, that percentage jumps to around 20%, and for those 80 years old and older, the percentage skyrockets to 90%. The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health research study included 3,285 subjects from 21 to 84 years of age.
Read full article
Read other articles
04-13-2010
I've had three different hearing aids in my life, and the Motion 501 ITE is the best and most comfortable out of all of them. It isn't very hidden on my ear, but it is quite stylish. My hearing loss isn't severe, so I wasn't in need of something too strong. If you have severe hearing loss this many not be the one for you. I have it on the second to highest setting and it is perfect for me. If you are looking for an everyday hearing aid I would recommend this one.
Read full review
Read other reviews
Enlisting Gatekeepers for the Front Lines in the War on Hearing Loss
03-10-2011
It is estimated by the National Institutes of Health that 31 million people – nearly one in ten Americans - suffer from some form of hearing loss.(1) The problem is pervasive and is not limited to older Americans:
-
3 in 10 people over age 60 have hearing loss; (2)
-
1 in 6 baby boomers (ages 41-59), or 14.6%, have a hearing problem;
-
1 in 14 Generation Xers (ages 29-40), or 7.4%, already have hearing loss
Despite these surprisingly large figures, only a small fraction of hearing impaired individuals have sought treatment. The consequences of overlooking hearing loss are well documented; a study conducted by the National Council on Aging showed that untreated hearing impairment can lead to depression (3), anxiety, social isolation, diminished health (4), impaired cognitive function (5), and can even negatively impact one’s job or school performance and earning power. (6)
There are many reasons why individuals do not seek treatment. Sometimes people are genuinely unaware of their hearing loss. Hearing loss may escape detection if it progresses gradually, over time. Some underestimate the signs of hearing loss, determining that isn’t severe enough to warrant treatment. Some have confessed that they feel there is a stigma associated with hearing loss. People are loathe to admit weakness, or they are unwilling to admit to age-related decline. It has been well established that denial is one of the biggest factors preventing hearing-impaired individuals from pursuing diagnosis and treatment.
Despite all of the social reasons for neglecting one’s hearing health, perhaps the most glaring and perplexing reason is that there is no institutional mechanism for testing. Why is there no routine method of hearing testing? Annual physical examinations routinely test cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and so on. Every year women over the age of 40 undergo a mammogram. Men have a prostate exam. Even those who do not wear glasses or contact lenses receive an occasional vision test, thanks to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Yet, there is no such routine examination for hearing health.
In a perfect world, every person would detect his or her own hearing decline, find an audio specialist, undergo testing and be fitted for a hearing aid. But that isn’t happening. Without a ‘prod’, the hearing impaired simply are not motivated to act. Family members will sometimes provide the needed gentle push, but just as often they are reluctant to initiate what may be an uncomfortable discussion with their loved one.
This is where “Gatekeepers” come in. Gatekeepers are those individuals that come into contact with the public on an annual basis: physicians, for example. One solution is for physicians to become the gatekeepers taking the lead in screening efforts. As the individual most responsible for protecting the overall health of patients, the general practitioner is the obvious choice. Today only 13% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical.(7) The only way to increase the number of physicians offering hearing testing is for the public to demand it.
In the meantime, a welcome new development has shown promise in identifying more people in need of help. Ophthalmologists have joined the effort to screen for hearing loss. This is a wonderful trend, as Ophthalmologists tend to see their patients on a regular basis, usually once per year. They are thus uniquely positioned to identify people who need assistance.
Treating vision and hearing together makes sense. In fact, dual sensory loss (8) (hearing and vision loss combined) is rising in the senior population, so treating them together may be the most effective method yielding the greatest results. It’s a ‘win-win’ for patient and provider. The patient is finally treated for an oft-ignored condition, with a dramatic improvement in quality of life. For the Ophthalmologist, it is an opportunity dramatically improve patient care and to treat the entire individual.
References:
(5) Brandeis University (2005, September 1). Brandeis Study: Poor Hearing May Cause Poor Memory. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 23, 2011
03-30-2011
Researchers are calling for “critically needed” “rehabilitative strategies” for confronting a newly discovered association between hearing loss and the progression of dementia.
Read full story
03-18-2011
Many people have a misconceptions about hearing aids and believe there is no solution to their hearing problem. Consumerrespots.org conducted a national survey of 1,100 people who bought hearing aids in the past three years, and lab-tested the features of 44 hearing aids to learn more about the following challenges.
Read full story
Read other blog
What are the differences between ophthalmologist, optometrist, and an optician?
Read more FAQ
