Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. Statistics show that one in three people over the age of 60, and half of those over 85 have hearing loss to some extent. A loss of hearing can be dangerous being as that it makes it difficult to understand a doctor’s advice, respond to warnings, and hear the phone, doorbells and alarms. It also causes embarrassment, frustration, withdrawal, isolation and depression as those with hearing problems tend to pull away from their family, friends and social events.
Widely considered to be one of the most commonly unaddressed health conditions in America today, hearing loss has been linked to numerous problems including diminished psychological and overall health.
NOW HEAR THIS!
Committed to helping people with hearing loss, the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) has recently published a comprehensive consumer publication, “Your Guide to Buying Hearing Aids,” that has been designed to assist people who have made the decision to address their hearing loss. The guide offers first-time hearing aid buyers a detailed, step-by-step breakdown of what to expect, ask, and look for when visiting a hearing care professional and purchasing a hearing aid. According to BHI, the guide provides important information and advice on selecting a hearing care professional, insurance coverage, and on what to expect as one goes through the testing process. Among the most important advice offered is to: * Bring a family member with you when being tested for support and to take notes. * Request a copy of test results for your physician to review. * Ask for a simulation of how you hear with and without a hearing aid in different environments. * Expect to be shown test results demonstrating the benefit received from a hearing aid. * Determine if the provider utilizes real ear measurement to verify the accuracy of the hearing aid fitting. The BHI also points out that a person in need of a hearing aid should never feel pressured to buy or make an immediate decision about a purchase and that the decision to purchase should be based solely on if the hearing aid demonstrably improves the ability to hear. To access the guide, click on to www.betterhearing.org under “Hearing Loss Treatment."
LISTEN UP!
Many people are hesitant to deal with their hearing problem by getting a hearing aid because they don’t want to have to wear something that points out their infirmity, or they have had a bad experience in the past with an older, inferior device. If either of those things are a concern they shouldn’t be. Today’s advances in digital technology have resulted in greatly improved hearing aids. They are very small and discreet with far better sound quality. They offer a greater level of clarity, directionality, phone compatibility and have less feedback problems. As proof of how advanced hearing aid technology has gotten, according to a BHI survey of 2,300 users, nine out of ten people fitted for a hearing aid reported improvements in their quality of life.
WHAT’S THAT YOU SAY?
You should be aware that hearing aids do require a substantial financial investment ranging in price from $2,000 to $8,000 and that while most private health care plans do not cover hearing aids, some may offer 10 to 20-percent towards the cost. Because of these costs, you should do all you can to know the cause of your hearing loss. While it may well be just a part of the natural ageing process, or because you liked listening to Elvis and The Beatles at blasting volumes when you were a kid, it could also be a result of work-related, long-term noise exposure. The reason this is important to know is because if that is the case you may be entitled to free hearing aids and compensation through workers compensation. It is a well-known fact that long-term exposure to loud noises can cause what is known as a “cumulative trauma” or a CT injury. Years of exposure to power tools, machinery or heavy equipment can cause substantial damage to the nerves in the ear and, as with any work related injury, your employer’s workers compensation insurance covers such injuries. The vast majority of people suffering from hearing loss due to a CT injury have no idea that these benefits exist and that they may be entitled to them. What’s that you say? You’ve been retired for years! Not to worry. The time limitation on filing for work related hearing loss is very liberal. But remember, if you worked for many years in an environment that subjected you to loud noises, it is up to you to bring this to your doctor’s attention. Physicians rarely discuss employment-related health problems with their retired patients unless the patient brings them up.
