Introduction
Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions endured by older Americans. That doesn’t mean, however, that seniors are as knowledgeable about audiology and hearing devices as other age groups in our society.
Just because seniors don’t wear hearing aids doesn’t mean they have to suffer from significant hearing impairment or significant social isolation from their peers because of it. Research has shown that there are plenty of benefits to wearing a device like a hearing aid and that’s why so many people with profound hearing loss may choose not to wear them but should do so instead. Here are just some of the reasons why this decision may be hard for some senior citizens—but why they should decide otherwise.
Why Seniors Don’t Wear Hearing Aids
1. Seniors Are Not Aware Of Their Hearing Loss
“I think one of the main reasons seniors don’t wear hearing aids is that they’re not aware that they have a problem with their hearing in the first place,” says Dr. Marie J. Koehler, an audiologist at Audiology Associates in Orange City, Florida. “The other reason would be a lack of finances.”
Seniors who have purchased hearing aid devices may not be wearing them because they can’t afford to or they haven’t received sufficient medical counseling on how to use them properly. The mental and physical health benefits accrued by regular use of a hearing device should outweigh any concerns seniors may have about its price or necessity.
2. Hearing Aid Devices Don’t Achieve Their Full Potential In The Home
Some seniors may not be wearing hearing aids because they don’t think they’re necessary. “They’ve been told that they’re going to develop a cochlear implant and they don’t want to have to go through all the painful physical surgery,” Koehler says. That aside, there are many advantages of using a device over a cochlear implant, even if one doesn’t have profound hearing loss.
3. Hearing Loss Is Not Actually That Significant
It’s easy to assume that profound hearing loss might make a person socially isolated. That’s not necessarily the case. The ability to hear and understand speech is important in a variety of situations, such as when dining out or attending social gatherings. “A hearing aid is very helpful in these settings but it does not alleviate all of the problems,” Koehler says. “The problem for seniors who wear a hearing aid is that they want to hear conversations with their family members and friends.”
4. Hearing Aids Are Not Necessary For All Seniors
Every senior will have his or her own unique situation to deal with regarding hearing loss. “It’s important for people to realize that there is a wide range of hearing loss, from mild to profound hearing loss,” Koehler says. “The person who has profound hearing loss might want to use it all the time. The person who has a mild-to-moderate loss may want to use it only occasionally.”
5. Hearing Aids Are Not Always Comfortable To Wear
It can be difficult to wear a hearing aid device if it doesn’t fit properly or is uncomfortable to the wearer. That’s why it’s so important to spend time with an audiologist who will provide you with a free hearing test and help you find a great device that fits your lifestyle and needs.
6. Hearing Aids Aren’t Necessarily Worn For Entertainment Purposes
Many seniors hope that wearing a hearing aid will help them hear better at restaurants, cocktail parties, the theater or their favorite concert hall.
Why Seniors Should Wear Hearing Aids
1. Seniors Can Stay Informed With A Hearing Aid
Older Americans who have hearing loss tend to isolate themselves. They may think that it’s too difficult to communicate with others and, as a result, they lose connections that are meaningful and important to them socially. “The ability to hear is an important part of communication and we can’t underestimate the importance of communication,” Koehler says. “Hearing loss is a barrier to communication.”
2. Seniors Can Understand Speech More Easily With A Hearing Aid
The ability to make out speech both in one-on-one conversations and in a group setting can be greatly enhanced by using a hearing device. “When someone is speaking to you and you can hear what they’re saying, it’s easier for you to respond,” Koehler says. “If I’m talking to you and you can’t hear me, it’s hard for me to get your attention.”
3. Seniors Can Avoid Social Isolation By Wearing A Hearing Aid
Seniors who are suffering from hearing loss are not alone in their struggle. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, an estimated 35 million people (or one in every three people between the ages of 65 and 74) in America suffer from age-related hearing loss. Fortunately, seniors have the ability to make hearing devices more comfortable by working with a professional audiologist.
4. Seniors Can Control The Noise Around Them
Hearing devices are often more comfortable in noisy places. “The device helps the ear to get around the background noise and understand what’s being said,” Koehler says. The senior can choose to amplify the sound he or she wants to hear (a person, for instance) and dampen or block out background noise. This ability can be especially helpful in a social situation when all kinds of sounds are coming from different directions at once.
5. Seniors Have The Ability To Be Alert To Safety Concerns
One reason seniors with hearing loss tend to avoid large gatherings of people is that they’re worried about their safety and about missing important information in an emergency situation.
Conclusion
The ability to hear is an important part of communication. If a senior has lost hearing, it’s highly likely that he or she will face some degree of social isolation. The social effects of hearing loss can often be alleviated by making the correct selections on a hearing aid. It is estimated that hearing loss will affect over 1 billion people worldwide by the year 2025. In addition to this, the number of older adults with significant hearing loss is expected to increase in the United States and throughout the world. It is important for older adults and their families to be aware of this statistic because there are numerous benefits (cognitive, communicative, and emotional) to using hearing aids. Despite this information, however, many seniors are still not using available treatment options for hearing loss. As a result, they may be missing out on social interactions that help to keep them engaged and active members of society.