According to Sergei Kochkin,PhD and executive director of Better Hearing Institute, many people are aware that their hearing has deteriorated but are reluctant to seek help. In fact, it can take approximately five-seven years after an individual recognizes a hearing loss before he or she seeks treatment.
In our practice, patients often admit to waiting several years. The reasons for this could take up an entire textbook. Here’s a few: l Not wanting to admit they are “broken” in some way( look for future article on this);
l Hearing only “negatives” about hearing instruments;
l Not knowing where to go to seek help;
l Financial reasons.
But time and again, research demonstrates the considerable negative social, psychological, cognitive and health effects of untreated hearing loss . . . with far-reaching implications that go well beyond hearing alone. In fact, those who have difficulty hearing can experience such distorted and incomplete communication that it seriously impacts their professional and personal lives, at times leading to isolation and withdrawal.
Studies have linked untreated hearing loss to:
l Irritability, negativism and anger;
l fatigue, tension, stress and depression;
l avoidance or withdrawal from social situations;
l social rejection and loneliness;
l reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety;
l impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks;
l reduced job performance and earning power;
l diminished psychological and overall health.
Hearing loss is not just an ailment of old age. It can strike at any time and any age, even childhood. For the young, even a mild or moderate hearing loss could bring difficulty learning, developing speech and building the important interpersonal skills necessary to foster self-esteem and succeed in school and life.
If you think you or a loved one is suffering from hearing loss, make an appointment with an audiologist to get evaluated and to learn about the remarkable advances in all aspects of hearing healthcare management.
