Hearing Loss-Fact Sheet

1. Hearing Loss – Fact Sheet

2. Hearing Loss??? Untreated hearing loss not only affects your ability to hear sound, but also your ability to understand speech and participate in a normal conversation – which ultimately impacts your social, emotional and physical well-being. Recent studies have linked untreated hearing loss to other health problems, such as overall cognitive decline, an increased risk of dementia, and poorer balance and physical function.

3. Hearing is Important! • Our hearing is integral to keeping us connected with the world around us, and to those we love • Experiencing hearing loss can have a dramatic impact on our quality of life and overall well-being

4. Who Suffers From Hearing Loss • Hearing loss is one of the most common disabilities that adults experience as they age • 35-40 million Americans have hearing loss (65% have mild loss; 30% moderate; 5% profound) • More than 60% of older adults have some degree of hearing loss • Baby Boomers (ages 45-65) are developing hearing loss at a faster rate and younger age than previous generations

5. Some Signs that You May Have Hearing Loss • A difficulty hearing and understanding people in noisy environments like a restaurant, a car, a shopping mall, a sporting event, or outside in a park. • You feel like people are “mumbling” all the time and you often ask family, friends, or colleagues to repeat themselves. • You have trouble hearing people if they aren’t facing you directly. • You get distracted easily or have a short attention span. • You always turn up the volume on the television, radio, or your personal listening device. • You have trouble following conversations. • You have difficulty hearing callers on your cell phone. • You have a constant ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in your ears.

6. The Common Causes of Hearing Loss • Long term exposure to excessive loud noise. • Ear infections, head trauma, or ear disease. • Harm to the inner ear and ear drum from contact with a foreign object, like a cotton swab. • An illness or even certain prescription drugs, antibiotics or over-the-counter pain medication. • Decreasing hearing simply due to normal aging.

7. Why Hearing Loss is Often Unaddressed? • Hearing loss is generally a slow and insidious process • Because deterioration occurs over a long period of time, people become accustomed to accommodating for the loss and may not realize it’s impact on their life • Hearing loss sufferers usually wait an average of 5-7 years before seeing a specialist for help (during this time deterioration typically continues)

8. Consequences of Untreated Hearing Loss • A recent study by Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging found a correlation between untreated hearing loss and a loss of cognitive function, noting a higher risk of developing forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s (i.e. auditory stimulation is critical to maintaining healthy brain function) • Untreated hearing loss can affect a person’s ability to understand speech, as well as negatively impact their social, emotional and physical well-being • Many hearing loss sufferers self-isolate by withdrawing from family, friends and colleagues as their frustration grows • Incidents of serious depression are higher in those with untreated hearing loss

9. Hearing Loss Prevention • While hearing loss may be inevitable as a result of age, increased noise exposure or illness, there are steps that everyone can take in their daily lives to help prevent hearing loss and/or arrest continued decline. • Limiting exposure to loud sound sources or actively using hearing protection can help prevent damage from taking place, or can prevent any losses from becoming worse.

10. Risk Factors Affecting Hearing Loss

11. Risk Factors Affecting Hearing Loss

12. Benefits of Amplification • Enhancement of Relationships with Loved Ones • Reduced tension and conflicts over miscommunication • Happier and more fulfilling relationships • Improvement of Mood • Decreases mental effort needed to understand speech • Prevents social isolation and subsequent depression • Slowing of Cognitive Decline • Helps to remain socially active and mentally engaged • Reduces the impact of dementia or Alzheimer's on communication • Enables Aging-in-Place • Prevents hearing loss from slowing down an active person’s lifestyle • Eases Medical Care Administration & Patient Compliance • Improves patient’s ability to understand and participate in their medical care which reduces additional telephone and family follow-ups

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14. Contact Zounds Hearing (212) 879-2329 20 East 68th Street at Madison Avenue, Suite 210 New York, NY 10065 info@zoundsnyc.com