5 Ways Hearing Loss Treatment Changes a Person’s Life
Hearing loss is the third most common health condition in the United States, affecting more than 38 million Americans. It can happen to anyone and can occur at any stage of life, negatively affecting everything from work-life to home-life, relationships with friends and family and even mental and emotional health.
With the latest in hearing technology, those with hearing loss now have the opportunity to enhance their world. Below are five ways that regaining the ability to hear clearly will transform an individual’s life:
1. Health: Fatigue, tension, stress, depression and even dementia are all physical symptoms cited by experts as ailments linked to hearing loss. From an emotional perspective, people with hearing loss may experience irritability, anger, negativism and diminished psychological health. However, the good news is when the ability to hear is regained, overall physical and psychological health can be improved.
2. Career: Reduced job performance and earning potential – and the resulting loss of identity and self-esteem – are also effects of hearing loss. The ability for an individual with hearing loss to carry out assigned tasks in a workplace environment can be severely hampered by factors such as background noise, acoustics and unfamiliarity with surroundings. Treatment for hearing loss often helps individuals feel more confident and prepared when they are on the job.
3. Daily Conveniences: Difficulty hearing the TV, alarm clock, radio, conversations over the phone or the words of another person are not just inconveniences but also potentially life-changing challenges that can lead to embarrassment, anxiety and even social withdrawal. People who struggle with these challenges due to difficulties with hearing loss may be able to overcome them by seeking treatment for their hearing loss.
4. Special Moments: Be it the crack of a bat at a little league game, the soft serenade of wedding music, or collective laughter of friends at a dinner party, many of life’s most wonderful moments can be missed due to hearing loss. This can lead to feelings of isolation and depression. Improved hearing can allow individuals to participate more in life and better enjoy the special moments.
5. Relationships: The inability to share intimate conversations or treasured moments because of diminished communication may be one of the most devastating effects of hearing impairment. Improved hearing through treatment options, like a cochlear implant or digital hearing devices, can afford individuals the opportunity to be more fully engaged with those special people in their life.
Saline Audiology has the latest in hearing aid technology and loop systems. Visit our website at www.salineaudiology.com, our Facebook page, or call us at 501-778-3868 / 501-922-0053.
References:
1. American Academy of Audiology. http://www.audiology.org/resources/consumer/documents/FSHearingloss08.pdf.
2. Lin, et al. Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults. JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(4):293-299.
3. Better Hearing Institute. http://www.betterhearing.org/hearing_loss/consequences_of_hearing_loss/index.cfm.
4. Kaland M, et al. The Psychology of Hearing Loss. The ASHA Leader. 2002, March 19.
5. Hearing Loss Association of America. http://www.hearingloss.org/content/hearing-loss-and-relationships
6. Dobie, R. & Van Hemel, S. (Eds.). Hearing Loss: Determining Eligibility for Social Security Benefits. National Academies Press. 2004. http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11099.
7. Hearing Loss Association of America. http://www.hearingloss.org/content/symptoms-hearing-loss.
