Three retirees were playing golf one fine March morning when one remarked to the others, “Windy, isn’t it?” “No, the second man replied, “It’s Thursday.” The third man chimed in, “So am I. Let’s have a drink.”

This old joke may bring a chuckle, but hearing loss is nothing to laugh about. Too many people wait years, even decades, before getting treatment for hearing loss because they’re either unaware of the extent of their hearing loss or too afraid to confront it.

The signs of hearing loss can be subtle and emerge slowly, or they can be significant and come on suddenly. Symptoms include not being able to hear well in a crowded room or restaurant, having trouble hearing children and women, keeping the television or radio turned up to a high volume, needing to ask friends to repeat what they’re saying, or experiencing ringing in the ears.

Many studies have linked untreated hearing loss to a wide range of physical and emotional conditions, including impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks, reduced alertness, increased risk to personal safety, irritability, negativism, anger, fatigue, tension, stress, depression, and diminished psychological and overall health.

 

Digital Technology Advances

Advances in digital technology have dramatically improved hearing aids in recent years, making them smaller with better sound quality. Designs are modern, sleek, and discreet. Clarity, better speech audibility in a variety of environments, better cell phone compatibility, and less whistling are just a few of the improvements.

 

Types of hearing devices

• Behind the Ear (BTE) / Mini behind-the-ear (Mini BTE) – The aid sits behind your ear and sound is carried into your ear via an earmold or a slim tube.

• Receiver in canal (RIC) – The microphone and amplifier sit behind the ear and the receiver is in the ear canal.

• In the ear (ITE) – Custom-made shell fits in the outer ear.

• In the canal (ITC) – Custom-made device fits into the ear canal opening.

• Completely in the canal (CIC) – Fits entirely in the ear canal.

Unaddressed hearing loss can erode the individual’s quality of life, undermining family relationships, interfering with short-term memory, and creeping into virtually every aspect of daily living. Increasingly, research shows a correlation between hearing loss and other chronic medical conditions including diabetes, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s. But nine out of ten hearing aid users report improvements in their quality of life.