Hearing Associates Inc is Encouraging Everyone to:
Take Action to Conserve
Test your Hearing Routinely
Treat any Hearing Loss
Tell Others
May is National Better Hearing Month and Hearing Associates Inc has joined with Congressman Lee to declare May is Better Hearing Month in the City of Los Angeles. We are encouraging Americans to celebrate by making an appointment with an audiologist for a hearing test.
“Healthy hearing means protecting your hearing, receiving annual hearing checks, and treating a hearing loss. Hearing loss is so significant it’s impacting your ability to participate in your work, social events you enjoy, or conversations with loved ones,” said Angelica O’Boyle, AuD. “Subtle changes in hearing may not be immediately noticeable but can make a big difference in quality of life. Audiologists can check hearing and make recommendations for improving hearing health and function and can offer tips for protecting your hearing to make sure it can serve you well for a lifetime.”
Hearing loss impacts a large number of Americans. According to a 2016 study by the National Institutes of Health NIDCD, approximately 15 percent (37.5 million) of American adults aged 20 to 69, have some trouble with hearing and approximately 28.8 million could benefit from the use of hearing aids. As the baby boomer population ages, more Americans are forced to face hearing health challenges. Growing numbers of younger Americans are also reporting hearing problems.
While age is still the greatest factor in hearing loss, many younger people also experience hearing difficulty due to exposure to loud music and noises including occupational noise. Among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30 percent) have used them despite growing evidence that doing so results in better long-term outcomes.
“Research demonstrates that untreated hearing loss in seniors is related to poor health outcomes including significantly increased falls and dementia,” said O’Boyle. “Individuals with even mild hearing loss experience significant impact in the form of reduced quality of life and cognitive health. Most importantly, hearing is what connects us to the people in our lives and as we age, those social connections are increasingly valuable. It’s so important that we treasure our hearing and do all we can to support healthy hearing for a lifetime.”
Audiologists are the experts in hearing health. While hearing aids are the most commonly recognized treatment for hearing loss, there are many factors that go into determining the best way to manage changes in hearing. An audiologist is the specialist who is best equipped determine the underlying reason for the hearing loss and to further determine the appropriate treatment. They can also offer custom options for protecting hearing.