Currently, 20% of the global population is living with some degree of hearing loss. Hearing loss can adversely impact stress levels, relationships, work performance and more. Hearing aids can compensate for the loss and mitigate the adverse side effects.
With all the benefits of the devices, it may come as a surprise that it takes people with hearing loss an average of seven years to begin seeking treatment. Let’s take a look at why many people wait to begin treatment and a few unexpected benefits to help you leap into starting treatment today.
Why Do People Wait to Start Treatment?
Two common reasons people may delay their hearing loss include:
- Thinking their hearing loss isn’t bad. Hearing loss, especially in age-related cases, often progresses gradually. Many people either don’t notice the signs of hearing loss or feel they are easy enough to ignore. Starting treatment early is the best way to mitigate the progressing side effects before hearing loss becomes acute.
- Not wanting to look old. Hearing loss was incorrectly associated with aging for a long time, but that is quickly changing. In fact, 14.9% of children ages six to 19 have low or high-frequency hearing loss of at least 16 decibels in one or both ears. While age remains a common factor in hearing loss development, other common causes include loud noise exposure, illness, physical trauma and more.
What Are the Benefits of Starting Treatment?
Three unexpected benefits of hearing aids include:
- Tinnitus management. Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, clicking or roaring sound in the ears without an external source. A common occurrence, 16 million people seek medical attention for tinnitus annually. While tinnitus has no known cure, hearing aids can minimize internal ringing by masking it with amplified external sounds.
- Improved relationships. Whether you’re mishearing a request to do the dishes from your spouse or skipping weekly dinners at Loggins Restaurant with friends because conversations feel overwhelming, hearing loss can take its toll on your relationships. Hearing aids amplify speech sounds and reduce background noise to minimize miscommunications and help you maintain strong relationships.
- Increase your safety. Our ears are responsible for conveying important safety information. Hearing aids can identify and amplify important auditory information to ensure you aren’t missing fire alarms, other cars on the road and more.
For more information on the benefits of hearing aids, contact SoundLogic today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.