Nearly 48 million Americans have hearing loss, a number that’s expected to climb rapidly over the next decade.
About 28.8 million American adults could benefit from hearing aids, but on average, people wait four years to seek help.
Hearing changes can happen gradually, making hearing loss difficult to self-diagnose. In fact, most people are not able to identify a 'normal' level of hearing or dectect their own level of hearing loss without the help of a hearing care professional. If you find that hearing changes are impacting your life, relationships, work, or everyday interactions, now is the time to take the first step towards better hearing.
Amplifon can guide and support you every step of the way.
Nearly 48 million Americans have hearing loss, a number that’s expected to climb rapidly over the next decade.
About 28.8 million American adults could benefit from hearing aids, but on average, people wait four years to seek help.
A great place to start is to take our virtual hearing screening. It’s an easy and efficient way to discover your hearing level and whether there are potential issues that need to be addressed.
For a healthy young person, the normal hearing range is about 20-20,000Hz. As we age, we tend to lose upper frequencies first. By middle-age, hearing loss ranges tend to sit right around 14,000Hz.
Below are three of the most common causes of hearing loss and why they put your hearing at risk.
Noise
Age
Health
Noise
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Age
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Why Treating Hearing Loss is Foundational for Your Overall Health
Health
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The most common type of hearing loss, this is a permanent loss that occurs when there is damage to the inner ear cells or the auditory nerve. For adults, the most frequent cause is exposure to loud noises over time.
This occurs when an obstruction or damage to the outer or middle ear prevents sound from being conducted to the inner ear. Depending on the exact cause, it may be permanent or temporary.
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. It commonly occurs when damage or trauma to the ear is combined with hearing loss caused by noise exposure or aging.
Comorbidities
Hearing loss is connected to many other health conditions throughout the body. While it may not directly cause these diseases or conditions, it is considered a risk factor for many.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States, representing one in four deaths every year. And the link between heart disease and hearing has been well-established for years. Heart problems can cause plaque buildup in the arteries and restrict blood flow, which may cause irreversible damage to the ear. For example, poor circulation can reduce oxygen, causing damage to the delicate nerves inside the cochlea. These nerves play an essential role in translating noise from your ears to electrical impulses in your brain.
An active lifestyle, including regular physical activity, a healthy diet, and good blood pressure ranges, can play a big part in a healthy cardiovascular system.
For years, scientists have suspected a connection between issues with blood sugar regulation and hearing loss. Recent research has solidified this suspicion, confirming a clear link between these two increasingly prevalent conditions. Diabetes can lead to damage to the small blood vessels throughout the body, including the inner ear, leading to hearing loss. Furthermore, damage to the auditory nerve can result in sensorineural hearing loss
Diabetes shares common risk factors with hearing loss, such as obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. These conditions can independently contribute to both diabetes and hearing impairment, creating a complex interplay of factors that increase the risk of hearing loss in individuals with diabetes.
With sleep apnea, breathing slows too much and even stops for short periods during sleep. Breathing difficulties at night inhibit a restful sleep or alertness the next day. But sleep apnea is responsible for more than just sleep difficulties.
Some theories suggest that the inflammation and circulatory issues brought on by sleep apnea may lead to damage in the inner ear. At this point, the research doesn’t prove that sleep apnea causes hearing loss, only that it is associated with it. But there’s enough evidence to suggest that if you have sleep apnea, you should get your hearing checked.
Related conditions
Tinnitus is usually a symptom of another condition, which means first, you want to identify the underlying cause. Some causes, such as excess earwax buildup, hypertension, stress, anemia, or overconsumption of caffeine or cigarettes, can be treated or eliminated relatively easily.
While there’s no cure, hearing aids can give you lasting treatment and relief. Tinnitus treatment options include Sound therapy, which uses soothing audio to mask the tinnitus sound, and Notch therapy, a variation of sound therapy using a narrower band of sound.
Research suggests a strong association between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline, including dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The exact mechanism behind this link isn’t fully understood, but it's believed that the strain of constantly trying to hear and understand conversations may lead to cognitive overload, contributing to decline over time. Hearing loss can affect your brain in many ways:
The good news is that proactive treatments can help ward off cognitive decline and dementia. Hearing aids are the most effective way to treat age-related or noise-induced hearing loss. It’s important to note that just because someone is at an increased risk for dementia does not mean that person is certain to develop it.
This chronic inner ear disorder causes recurring episodes of severe dizziness (vertigo), ear pressure, tinnitus, and hearing loss. It typically affects only one ear, although some people experience symptoms in both.
Meniere’s disease is a complex, debilitating condition that can significantly impact a person’s way of life. Symptoms come on without warning, limiting participation in social, leisure, and work activities. And because scientists have yet to pinpoint the exact cause of the disease, it’s difficult to predict or prevent.
In recent years, we’ve gained a much better understanding of Meniere’s disease in recent years. While there’s no cure yet, various treatments can help alleviate and manage symptoms.
Luckily, early intervention, such as hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and communication strategies, can help mitigate the impacts and improve overall health outcomes. Addressing any underlying medical conditions or risk factors can help treatment work better and increase overall well-being.
If you are experiencing hearing loss symptoms, take our quick online hearing quiz.
You can also contact us directly to find a hearing care provider near you, schedule a hearing evaluation, and check if you have additional benefits through your health insurance provider or employer.
If you have a diagnosis, Amplifon offers access to preferred hearing testing and device pricing. You may also benefit from additional savings through your health insurance provider or employer.
Call us at (877) 846-7074. Our friendly Hearing Care Advocates can help you find a nearby provider, explain our Amplifon Program, and help you make an appointment before sending you and your provider the necessary information to activate your Amplifon program.
Denial is common. Listen and offer support while emphasizing ways they can proactively treat or manage symptoms.
Advanced technology and personalized care have made hearing aids incredibly effective, comfortable, and nearly undetectable. Help educate the individual about different types of hearing aids and how to find the care they need.
Seeking treatment can be overwhelming. Direct them to resources, like what to expect at their first appointment and understanding hearing aid costs. If you can, attend appointments and encourage them to contact Amplifon about their hearing care benefits.
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