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Quality of Life and Hearing Loss

Those who are unaware of their hearing loss may isolate themselves socially for fear of embarrassment.

Depression and anxiety have been linked to hearing loss, significantly lowering quality of life and self image.
Individuals with hearing loss report a higher quality of life after they begin to use hearing aids.
Treatment of hearing loss will improve interpersonal relationships.
The use of hearing aids is associated with reductions in anger, frustration, paranoia, anxiety and overall improvements in emotional stability.
Most people who use hearing aids have improved social lives.
9 out of 10 hearing aid users report improvements in their quality of life.

Careers and Hearing Loss

1 in 4 workers exposed to high levels of noise will develop a hearing loss.
Professions at risk for hearing loss include firefighters, police officers, factory workers, farmers, construction workers, military personnel, heavy industry workers, musicians, and entertainment industry professionals.
One of the key determinants of success with hearing aids is associated with greater earning power.

Smokers are 1.7 times more likely to having hearing loss than non-smokers.
Many medications can affect hearing and/or cause sounds to occur in the ears such as ringing or buzzing.

The deterioration related to hearing loss extends beyond the ears up to the pathways and auditory centers of the brain.
Many individuals are not aware of their hearing loss.

Most hearing loss is permanent and cannot be managed with medication or surgery, but can be helped with hearing aids.
Many young adults are hearing aid users.
The vast majority of individuals (95%) with hearing loss have their hearing loss treated with hearing aids.
Only 5% of hearing loss in adults can be improved through medical or surgical treatment.
Hearing impaired individuals are less likely to be discriminated against if they use hearing aids.
The use of hearing aids is associated with improved perceptions of the mental ability of individuals with hearing loss.
People who use hearing aids report better health than hearing impaired people who do not use hearing aids.
Satisfaction with directional hearing aids is 81%.
1 out of 10 individuals have a hearing loss.
3 out of 1000 children are born with hearing loss.
15% of “baby boomers” (ages 45-64) have hearing loss.
29% of people over age 65 have hearing loss.
The majority (65%) of people with hearing loss are below retirement age.
The majority (60%) of people with hearing loss are males.

The vast majority of hospitals now offer newborn hearing screening before discharge from the hospital.
All children should be screened for hearing loss before 1 month of age.
85% of all children experience at least one ear infection.
Second-hand smoke in the home increases the risk of middle ear infections and respiratory allergies in children.
Infants may begin to use hearing aids as early as 2-4 months of age.
Even a mild hearing loss can seriously impact a child’s ability to learn in a school environment.
Hearing loss in children is often misdiagnosed as a learning disability.

Some of the information above can be found at www.betterhearing.com.