Posted September 17, 2019
Hearing loss affects
Americans of all ages. In fact, over 20%, or 48 million people,
have some degree of hearing loss. It’s estimated that four out of five people
with hearing problems choose to ignore it. But hearing changes have
far-reaching effects. Here are four ways that hearing loss is linked to
cognitive decline and people’s quality of life.
Increases falls and injuries
Hearing loss can cause
people, especially older adults, to feel unsteady and unbalanced when standing
up or walking. People with hearing loss have three times the risk of falling. Often these
falls lead to serious injuries, such as broken bones or a concussion.
Researchers at the Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis found
that hearing aids can improve balance issues in older adults with hearing loss.
Reduces brain function
People with hearing
loss often struggle with anxiety and depression, which can impact brain function.
Research shows that people with hearing loss often experience a faster decline of cognitive ability than
those with normal hearing. The risk increases with the severity of the hearing
loss. Cognitive decline can be described as noticeable changes in memory that
impact daily life. Early diagnosis of hearing loss and use of hearing aids can
help.
Leads to employment changes
Studies show that
people with untreated hearing loss could experience lower wages and
unemployment. Studies show that people who wear hearing aids have better job
performance and a lower risk of income loss.
Impacts relationships
Untreated hearing
problems can cause people to withdraw from others. Group conversations and
family dinners can be frustrating because individual voices blend making it
difficult to follow discussions. People who wear hearing aids are better able
to participate in meetings and enjoy family gatherings.
Baseline hearing exam
Hearing changes can
occur gradually until suddenly the loss is noticeable. Schedule a hearing exam now to establish a baseline
of normal hearing levels. Then it can be used later as a comparison to detect
future hearing problems. Here’s why it’s so important.
Hearing benefits
Today, many employers
are including hearing coverage in employee benefits packages. That’s why
Ameritas offers a SoundCare® benefit featuring
benefits toward a hearing exam, hearing aids and/or hearing aid maintenance.
The plan design is flexible and can easily be tied to an Ameritas dental plan.
Learn more about ways that
employers can help employees with hearing loss by reading this blog.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete