Hearing an Issue with Baby Boomers
A lot comes with age: Wisdom, power, money. Maybe even loss of hearing. Especially when you consider all those ear-splitting concerts we attended.
According to the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) it’s time for baby boomers to get their hearing checked so they can “better manage the quality of life issues that often result from unaddressed hearing loss.”
Baby boomers—those born between 1947 and 1964—may be particularly susceptible to hearing loss because of their lifelong exposure to loud music, says Sergei Kochkin, PhD, Executive Director of BHI and a nationally recognized expert on hearing loss and hearing solutions.
We need to stop treating hearing loss as a minor problem, say Kochkin. “Research shows that when people cannot hear properly, they make less money and their inability to hear can disrupt family life and other relationships.”
The good news is that hearing loss can be easily diagnosed, and for most people, there are solutions in the form of digital and programmable hearing aids, many of which are not visible.
“Many people associate hearing loss with advancing age,” explains Kochkin. “But hearing loss also is associated with exposure to loud noises—something that some baby boomers have faced since childhood. About two out of three people with hearing loss are below retirement age.”
Close to 15 percent of baby boomers—ages 41 to 59—already have a hearing loss. That number will undoubtedly grow. What’s more, the challenge of acknowledging and addressing a hearing loss is something more and more baby boomers are willing to take on—rather than allow it to take a toll on their active personal and professional lives.
Symptoms of hearing loss include not being able to hear well in a crowded room or restaurant, having to ask friends to repeat what they are saying, or not being able to hear sounds that others seem to be able to hear better.
·This is national problem that can be solved, says BHI. Erasing the stigma and embarrassment that prevents people from seeking help for hearing loss is one of the goals of the BHI. They hope to show the negative consequences of untreated hearing loss and promote treatment.
“Too many people cling to the old, stubborn belief that wearing a hearing aid won’t help fix their hearing problems,” says Kochkin. “We hope people, especially baby boomers, understand that hearing aids work better than ever, and can dramatically improve the quality of their lives.
“Today’s baby boomers are active, involved individuals. With the technology currently available, and with what we see on the horizon, there are many exciting options that will allow America’s baby boomers to stay connected—in every sense of the word.”
Why listen up? BHI surveys show:
· 93% of consumers with hearing devices say the devices have improved their quality of life
· 85% say they are satisfied with the benefits they get from hearing aids
· Improvements that go along with better hearing health include more effective communications, better social life, better relationships at home and in the work place, improved emotional health, improved mental/cognitive ability, and better physical health
· Respondents said their hearing aids improved communication in one-on-one situations, small groups, watching TV, listening to music, and in leisure activities.
For a free copy of "Your Guide to Better Hearing," visit www.betterhearing.org.
