Hearing Loss: what if Untreated?
Older adults with untreated hearing loss cost 46% increased in healthcare costs over a 10-year period compared to those who did not have a hearing loss, a study finds.
According to Research
Researchers found that there was a considerable impact on brain health in adults with minor to severe hearing loss. For example:
- Dementia is five times more likely in someone suffering from severe hearing loss
- Somebody with slight hearing loss has two times the risk of dementia
- Someone with moderate hearing loss triples their chance of getting dementia
Poor hearing has an effect on quality of life, also. A person who doesn’t hear well is more likely to feel anxiety and stress. They are also prone to depression. Higher medical costs are the result of all of these factors.
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The Newest Study
The newest research published November in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows that not getting your hearing loss checked is a budget buster, also. The University of California San Fransisco, Johns Hopkins with AARP, and Optum Labs. The work from Medical University is an important step in visualizing the impact hearing loss has on both bodily health and our health care systems. It also leaves room for important further research. One thing the study did not examine was the effect hearing loss treatment had on the overall cost of care. Age of diagnosis and compliance with treatments was also left out of the study parameters. The study lists factors associated with the increase including:
- Falls
- Depression
- Dementia
- Lower quality of life
- Decline of cognitive ability
- Around 15 percent of young people 18 years old have a hard time hearing
- Up to 8.5 percent of 55-to-64-year-olds have loss of hearing
- There’s significant deafness in individuals aged 45 to 54
- Presently, 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children has hearing loss
Hearing Aid
In spite of the great variety of types, designs and technical features, hearing aids can all be described as small, wearable electronic devices which enable a person to hear sounds better and understand speech more clearly, providing an overall improvement in communication ability.
Wearing hearing aids can eliminate some of the health issues connected with hearing loss. Further research is needed to determine if using hearing aids lowers the cost of healthcare. There are more benefits to wearing them than not, undoubtedly. To find out if hearing aids would benefit you, schedule an appointment with a hearing care professional right now.
If you’ve experienced changes in your hearing, don’t wait for it to take a toll on your lifestyle, set up a hearing test with Shruti Hearing Care Clinics today. Our team of hearing specialists is here to walk you through every step of the path to healthy hearing. Our hearing exams analyze the nuances of the sensitivity of your hearing and our full range of hearing solutions can help you hear your best.
References
Hearing Loss: A Common Problem for Older Adults