Hearing Loss is the third highest chronic disease state in the United States, following hypertension and arthritis yet only 20% of those individuals who might benefit from treatment actually seek help. Most tend to delay treatment until they cannot communicate – even in the best of listening situations. On average, hearing aid users wait over 10 years after their initial diagnosis to be fit with their first set of hearing aids (Davis, Smith, Ferguson, Stephens, & Gianopoulos, 2007).
Can you imagine suffering from the pain of arthritis for years or decades without help? The consequence of untreated hypertension can result in death! So why do people wait to take care of their hearing loss? Most people don’t understand the true dangers of hearing loss and even more people don’t recognize the severity of their hearing loss until it’s too late. And yes it can be too late. The damage of untreated hearing loss is permanent.
Studies have linked untreated hearing loss effects to:
- Irritability, negativism and anger
- Fatigue, tension, stress and depression
- Avoidance or withdrawal from social situations
- Social rejection and loneliness
- Reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety
- Impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks
- Reduced job performance and earning power
- Diminished psychological and overall health
Less earning potential? Impaired memory? Decrease in overall health? These are scary side effects especially in today’s world which emphasizes youth and alertness. In all treatable cases, treatment is 90% effective.
Contact American Hearing + Audiology for an appointment at one of our top-rated hearing centers.
Please visit betterhearing.org for more information.
