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Hearing Loss is Not Harmless
By Dr. Deborah Dempesy
In October 2010, The National Council on Aging (NCOA), The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) and the Australia Department of Human Services each reported significant findings related to undiagnosed and untreated hearing loss. All three studies confirm and support that HEARING LOSS IS NOT A HARMLESS CONDITION TO BE IGNORED OR LEFT UNTREATED.
Hearing loss has a tremendous impact on your life. If left unaddressed, hearing loss can have serious emotional and social consequences.
The National Council on Aging found that people 50 and older with untreated hearing loss were more likely to report depression, anxiety, anger and frustration, emotional instability and paranoia, and were less likely to participate in social activities than those who wore hearing aids. The degree of these effects increased with the increased severity of the hearing loss.
The Better Hearing Institute study also found that when left untreated, hearing loss often leads to isolation, depression and other emotional conditions that can affect both mental health and the quality of life. Yet the study noted hearing loss remains one of the most commonly unaddressed health conditions in America today.
The Australian Department of Human Services found that 60% of those with hearing loss had symptoms of depression. Specifically: 52% had increased irritability and frustration, 22% had trouble sleeping or experienced restlessness, and 18% showed a loss of interest of pleasure in most activities.
The NCOA study found that those who used hearing aids to address their hearing loss had reduced depression and improved interpersonal relationships, including greater intimacy. They experienced less anger and frustration, decreased paranoid feelings, reduced anxiety symptoms, reduced social phobias, and enhanced emotional stability. They sensed a greater belief that they WERE IN CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES: cognitive functioning and health status improved; incidence of pain decreased; social activity was enhanced; and self criticism was reduced.
More Americans than ever before are suffering with hearing loss. That means greater numbers are leaving their hearing loss unaddressed and untreated – simply because they do not understand how significantly it affects their quality of life and mental health. There are more than 34 million people in the United States with hearing loss – roughly 11% of the US population. Over the last generations, hearing loss has increased at a rate of 160 percent of the US population growth.
MYTHS OF HEARING LOSS
If I had a hearing loss my physician would have told me. Not true! Only 14% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical. Since most people with hearing impairments hear well in a quiet environment like a doctor’s office, it can be virtually impossible for your physician to recognize the extent of your problem.
Hearing loss affects only “old people” and is merely a sign of aging. Not true! Only 35% of people with hearing loss are older than age 64. There are close to 6 million people in the US between the ages of 18 – 44 with hearing loss, and more than one million are school age. Hearing loss affects all age groups.
Your hearing loss cannot be helped. Not True! In the past many people with hearing loss in one ear, or a high frequency hearing loss, or with nerve damage have all been told they cannot be helped, often by their family physician. This might have been true many years ago, but with modern advances in technology, nearly 95% of people with a sensorineural (“nerve”) hearing loss can be helped with hearing aids.
I’ll just have some minor surgery like my friend did, and then my hearing will be okay. Not true! Many people know someone whose hearing improved after medical or surgical treatment. While it’s true that some types of hearing loss can be successfully treated this way, with adults, unfortunately, this only applies to 5-10% of cases.
Baseline audiograms (Hearing Tests) are recommended at age 50. CALL ALL EARS HEARING CENTER AT 508-747-4055 or email deb@allearshearing.net for more information and/or an appointment to get your baseline hearing evaluation today!
Dr. Deborah Dempesy
Dr. Dempesy obtained her Masters in Audiology at Northwestern University in Evanston IL in 1982. She received her Doctorate in Audiology at the Salus University (previously known as The Pennsylvania College of Optometry and Audiology) in Pennsylvania in 2007. Dr. Dempesy worked with developmentally delayed hearing-impaired children in the Chicago area for two years from 1980-1982, moved back to her home state of Massachusetts and was Clinical Director of Audiology at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital for 14 years. She consulted, performing research with manufacturers of hearing devices and volunteered on the Massachusetts Infant Hearing Screening Task Force until a law was passed that required all infants to have their hearing screened before discharge from the hospital or birthing clinic.
Dr. Dempesy has been a board member of the Massachusetts Academy of Audiology, volunteering her time to continue quality education of audiologists in the Massachusetts area.
Recently Dr. Dempesy worked for a major hearing device manufacturer, providing training and education on new technology to audiologists in the New England area. The combination of these experiences gives her an exceptionally well-rounded perspective that she passes on to her patients.
In addition, Dr. Dempesy is a member of the American Academy of Audiology, The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the American Tinnitus Association, Educational Audiology Association and the Aural Rehabilitation Association. She is licensed to practice as an audiologist in the state of Massachusetts.
Personally, Dr. Dempesy’s immediate family consists of her partner and 23 year old daughter. In her free time, Dr. Dempesy loves to ocean kayak, run, rock climb, hike, read, watch movies and spend time with her sisters, brother and parents in western Massachusetts.
All Ears Hearing Center, Inc.
59 Industrial Park
Plymouth, MA 02360
www.allearshearing.net
(508) 747-4055 (800) 649-4054 (617) 510-5254
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