With 77% of 60 to 69-year-olds and 94% of 70 to 79-year-olds having an audiometrically measured hearing loss, it still surprises me that more of us don’t take care of our hearing health.
The numbers make sense though – the years of loud-noise exposure contribute to these figures considerably.
As you can see in the infographic below, 38% of adults ages 29 to 79 had a hearing loss. That’s a huge portion of our population! So why are so many people avoiding treatment?
Why People Neglect Or Delay Treating A Hearing Loss
One of the biggest reasons is that a lot of people have a gradual hearing loss, so they don’t even notice it. Only 8% of the 63% of men who were diagnosed with a hearing loss from 2012 to 2015 reported a hearing impairment.
Granted, many of these men might have simply chosen to not report it, but even so, the difference is huge. Even among our female population, only 5% of the 46% of those with a hearing loss reported having one.
As we get older, we are loath to talk about anything that might highlight our advancing age, such as worsening hearing, so seeking help can feel like we’re admitting weakness.
Obviously, this makes no sense when everyone will go get glasses as soon as their eyesight dims. But the general consensus is that glasses look okay on a person whereas there’s a big fear that a clunky hearing aid will make us look inept.
The problem with this fear is that it’s not true anymore. Today’s advanced hearing aids are practically invisible, and their technology means that feedback can be quickly fixed and most aspects of it can be controlled from a phone app.
Common Signs Of Hearing Loss
The main signs that you might have a hearing loss include asking people to repeat themselves or thinking they are mumbling or speaking too softly.
You might also want the TV volume up higher than others in the house are comfortable with, and it’s hard to track a conversation on the phone or in a place with a lot of background noise.
Loved ones are usually the first to suggest that you might have a hearing loss, which you’ll likely deny in the beginning but then wonder if they might have a point.
You might also have tinnitus, ringing in your ears that won’t go away. Join the unfortunate 14% of Canadians who have both a hearing loss and tinnitus (but know there are some helpful ways to treat that too).
The worst part of having a hearing loss is that you might find yourself starting to withdraw because asking people to repeat themselves and giving the wrong answer to a question gets embarrassing. Please don’t let it get that far when hearing treatment these days is so good.
First Steps To Treating A Hearing Loss
Book a hearing assessment or a tinnitus assessment to start the process. Or just book a consultation so we can answer all your questions.
There’s no charge for giving you a bit of help. The great thing about a hearing assessment is that we also get a good look at your ear and figure out what’s causing your hearing loss. Sometimes it might be a medical issue that needs help, or it’s a buildup of earwax that we can clean out for you.
Whatever it is, we’ll aim to find it, treat it, and get you smiling again.
Get The Best Hearing Care In Ontario
Regardless of where you are in Southern Ontario, you’re not far from an Arnold Hearing Centre clinic. With locations in Kitchener, Guelph, Simcoe, and Waterloo staffed by 9 of the top hearing care experts in our region, your family has quick, easy access to better hearing.
Come see us! We’re happy to assess your hearing and recommend treatment options that will get you back to enjoying conversations and phone calls again.
