Hearing Loss
The hidden “costs” of not treating hearing loss
Unfortunately, only a fraction of people with serious hearing loss receive treatment – despite major advances in hearing aid technology that can provide significant benefit. In part, this is because many people still believe that their hearing loss is insignificant or cannot be helped or that they cannot afford treatment. But untreated hearing loss can cause withdrawal from favorite activities and severely compromise a person’s quality of life.
Hearing loss can impact quality of life
People with hearing impairment that goes untreated suffer many negative effects. Compared to hearing-impaired people who use hearing aids, those who do not use hearing aids are more likely to report:
- Sadness and depression
- Paranoia, worry and anxiety
- Less social activity
- Emotional turmoil and insecurity
Causes of hearing loss
- Noise exposure
- Earwax or foreign bodies in the ear canal
- The natural aging process
- Ear infections, eustachian tube dysfunction or middle ear problems (e.g. otosclerosis)
- Ménière’s disease or related ear diseases
- Head and neck trauma
- Medications
- TMJ or jaw joint misalignment
- Stress, depression, anxiety
- Cardiovascular disease
- Systemic diseases – diabetes, anemia, hormonal changes, Lyme disease, high or low blood pressure, thyroid dysfunction, fibromyalgia, brain tumors
- For many, the cause is unknown
People whose hearing loss is treated often report a number of benefits
- Better relationships with family and friends
- Better feelings about themselves
- Greater sense of self-worth
- Improved mental health
- Greater independence and security
In addition, most report that they wish they’d sought help for their hearing loss much sooner.
