Hearing Loss Fact Sheet

Hearing Loss???
Untreated hearing loss not only affects your ability to
hear sound, but also your ability to understand
speech and participate in a normal conversation
which ultimately impacts your social, emotional and
physical well-being. Recent studies have linked
untreated hearing loss to other health problems, such
as overall cognitive decline, an increased risk of
dementia, and poorer balance and physical function.

Hearing is Important!

Our hearing is integral

to keeping us connected
with the world around
us, and to those we love

Eperiencing hearing
loss can have a
dramatic impact on our
!uality of life and overall
well-being

Who Suffers From Hearing Loss

"earing loss is one of the most

common disabilities that adults
eperience as they age

#$-%& million 'mericans have

hearing loss ()$* have mild
loss+ #&* moderate+ $*
profound,

-ore than )&* of older adults

have some degree of hearing
loss

.aby .oomers (ages %$-)$,

are developing hearing loss at
a faster rate and younger age
than previous generations

Some Signs that You May Have Hearing Loss

' difficulty hearing and understanding people in noisy environments

like a restaurant, a car, a shopping mall, a sporting event, or outside
in a park.

/ou feel like people are 0mumbling1 all the time and you often ask
family, friends, or colleagues to repeat themselves.

/ou have trouble hearing people if they aren2t facing you directly.

/ou get distracted easily or have a short attention span.

/ou always turn up the volume on the television, radio, or your

personal listening device.

/ou have trouble following conversations.

/ou have difficulty hearing callers on your cell phone.

/ou have a constant ringing, bu33ing, or hissing sound in your ears.

The Common Causes of Hearing Loss

4ong term eposure to ecessive loud noise.

Ear infections, head trauma, or ear disease.

"arm to the inner ear and ear drum from contact with
a foreign ob5ect, like a cotton swab.

'n illness or even certain prescription drugs,

antibiotics or over-the-counter pain medication.

6ecreasing hearing simply due to normal aging.

Why Hearing Loss is ften !na""resse"?

"earing loss is generally a

slow and insidious process

.ecause deterioration occurs

over a long period of time,
people become accustomed to
accommodating for the loss
and may not reali3e it2s impact
on their life

"earing loss sufferers usually

wait an average of $-7 years
before seeing a specialist for
help (during this time
deterioration typically
continues,

Conse#uences of !ntreate" Hearing Loss

' recent study by 8ohns "opkins and the 9ational :nstitute on 'ging
found a correlation between untreated hearing loss and a loss of
cognitive function, noting a higher risk of developing forms of
dementia, such as 'l3heimer2s (i.e. auditory stimulation is critical to
maintaining healthy brain function,

Untreated hearing loss can affect a person2s ability to understand

speech, as well as negatively impact their social, emotional and
physical well-being

-any hearing loss sufferers self-isolate by withdrawing from family,

friends and colleagues as their frustration grows

:ncidents of serious depression are higher in those with untreated

hearing loss

Hearing Loss $revention

;hile hearing loss may be

inevitable as a result of age,
increased noise eposure or
illness, there are steps that
everyone can take in their daily
lives to help prevent hearing
loss and<or arrest continued
decline.

4imiting eposure to loud

sound sources or actively
using hearing protection can
help prevent damage from
taking place, or can prevent
any losses from becoming
worse.

%is& Factors 'ffecting Hearing Loss
$reva(ence of Hearing Loss
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%is& Factors 'ffecting Hearing Loss
Factors )/isease. Imapct
6iabetes #&* higher rate of hearing loss in pre-diabetic
patients
Dmoking almost twice as likely to have hearing loss
6ementia E 'l3heimerFs 6isease complicates treatment and diagnosis, numerous
comorbidities
Dleep 'pnea decreased blood oygen inside inner ear
"istory of "igh :ntensity Dound or 9oise
Eposure
causes cell death<damage
-edication or Ghemotherapy Ototoic Dide Effects

0enefits of 'mp(ification

1nhancement of %e(ationships 2ith Love" nes

Reduced tension and conflicts over miscommunication

"appier and more fulfilling relationships

Improvement of Moo"

6ecreases mental effort needed to understand speech

Brevents social isolation and subse!uent depression

S(o2ing of Cognitive /ec(ine

"elps to remain socially active and mentally engaged

Reduces the impact of dementia or 'l3heimerFs on communication

1na3(es 'ging4in4$(ace

Brevents hearing loss from slowing down an active person2s lifestyle

1ases Me"ica( Care '"ministration 5 $atient Comp(iance

:mproves patient2s ability to understand and participate in their medical care which reduces additional
telephone and family follow-ups

Fin" !s Here on We3666
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Contact :oun"s Hearing
(>@>, ?7=->#>=
>& East )?th Dtreet at
-adison 'venue, Duite >@&
9ew /ork, 9/ @&&)$
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