Because we’re a hearing technology company and our business is singularly focused on helping people hear the best they can, the statistic above — that hearing loss is the United States’ third most common chronic physical condition and is more prevalent than diabetes or cancer — isn’t surprising to those of us. We’re plenty aware that hearing loss is common because we deal with it every day. We know, too, that it becomes even ...
In 2018, a team from the University of Michigan studied a group of older adults who reported they had severe hearing loss to see if hearing aid use impacted how they use our health care system. Some in the group treated their hearing loss with hearing aids, while others did not. Knowing that hearing aids can be a significant investment, the team was curious to find out if the cost of hearing aids was offset ...
Summer is upon us and now, more than ever, we’re looking forward to enjoying outdoor activities — particularly water sports! Unfortunately, with water sports, we also see an increase in swimmer’s ear. What is swimmer’s ear? Swimmer’s ear is an infection found in the outer ear canal, the area that extends from the outer ear (pinna) to the eardrum (tympanic membrane). The medical term for swimmer’s ear is otitis externa. Swimmer ...
Falls are some of the scariest and most frequent injuries suffered by older adults. According to the CDC: • One quarter of people over 65 fall each year • Three million older people go to the ER each year for falls • One in five falls causes a serious injury • Falls account for over $50 billion in medical costs each year There are many reasons why older adults are more prone to falls — from weakness or medication side ...
A few years back, a New York Times article pleaded that the treatment of hearing loss needs “to be taken much more seriously.” Much of the article’s basis for that plea were the numerous mental and physical health consequences of letting hearing loss go untreated, including increased odds of depression, falling, emergency room visits, and, of course, dementia. All are correlations that have been studied broadly and that we dig into regularly in this ...
We don’t need clinical evidence to understand that hearing loss can lead to depression. It's the transitive property of addition brought to life: if a=b and b=c, then a=c. a. If you’re experiencing hearing loss, there’s a good chance you’ll purposefully minimize or avoid social situations (because hearing is a challenge which makes socializing less fun). b. Avoiding social situations and interactions can lead to social isolation ...
Hearing and sight are arguably our two most important senses (despite taste getting a lot of attention these past 18 months). Yet, if and when either starts to fail us — and both typically do as we age — we react to each very differently. You can tell by all the people with glasses, contacts, Lasik surgery or cheaters that we have no problem or hesitation treating vision issues. But when it comes to treating hearing loss ...
A 2017 study, conducted by The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care, called dementia “the greatest global challenge for health and social care in the 21st century.” But you don’t need a study to tell you that. Ask friends and loved ones of the estimated 50 million people worldwide who have dementia (there’s a good chance you are one), and they’ll tell you about the worry, stress, sadness and devastation ...
Three of the most common hearing loss questions and their answers If you’re like us, you like to get to the bottom of any ailment you have. When you know what the exact issue is, you waste less time and anxiety and going-down-a-rabbit-hole Google searches wondering what it might be. And, because you know what you’re dealing with, you can address the issue precisely and focus on treatment — which delivers better, faster results ...
It’s been proven that — left untreated — hearing loss can have a negative effect on our quality of life. Studies have linked untreated hearing loss to decreased cognitive function, higher incidences of hospitalizations, falls and depression, and increased risk of social isolation and dementia. Those studies don’t take into account how ignoring hearing loss can diminish social interactions, television and movie watching, enjoyment of music and nature, and increase our feelings of missing out ...
