Survey Reveals Only 14% of U.S. Adults Have Tried Hearing Aids

hearing aid survey associated audiologists Independence MO

There’s a huge disconnect between people who think they have hearing loss, and those who have done something about it. In fact, one of the reasons legislators moved to make hearing aids available over-the-counter for individuals with mild-to-moderate hearing loss was to make lower priced devices more accessible. This legislation eliminated the need for a diagnostic hearing evaluation and made devices available in retail stores and online.

But a new survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Lexie Hearing, an over-the-counter hearing aid company, measured the hearing care attitudes and behaviors of more than 1,000 adults aged 50+ in the U.S. It found 64% of U.S. adults 50 and older report hearing difficulty, but only 14% have tried hearing aids.

The survey found among those who report having problems hearing, there are a range of negative impacts on their overall and mental health, relationships, and day-to-day lives. Specifically:

  • 55% say hearing loss negatively affects their ability to enjoy entertainment.
  • 42% say hearing loss negatively affects their social life.
  • 40% say hearing loss negatively affects their personal relationships.
  • 32% say that hearing loss negatively affects their mental health.
  • 31% say hearing loss negatively affects their ability to conduct day-to-day activities.

Just under half of those who have experienced hearing difficulty (46%) say that other people don’t understand how much hearing loss has impacted their lives.

Still, 25% of Americans 50+ don’t recognize that hearing loss can impact their overall health and only 38% say they are worried about hearing loss as they age. Instead, these respondents say they are more concerned about other signs of aging, such as eyesight decline (59%); diagnosis with serious health conditions (53%); cognitive health decline (48%); loss of balance (i.e., falling) (48%); and weight gain (40%).

Ironically, hearing loss impacts many of these issues Americans see as more significant. And treating hearing loss, whether with prescription hearing aids or over-the-counter devices, can help reduce the risk of these problems. For example, research has shown:

  • Adults with untreated hearing loss have shorter lifespans than adults who have hearing loss but who wear hearing aids.
  • Hearing aids may reverse negative psychological and emotional changes and may offset cognitive decline associated with hearing loss.
  • People with even mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia. For people with severe hearing loss, the risk of dementia may be five times greater!
  • A 25 dB hearing loss is equivalent to a seven-year age decline in cognitive function.
  • Lifestyle factors, like increasing exercise, education, social contact, quitting smoking and treating hearing loss could prevent one in three cases of dementia.
  • People with mild hearing loss (25 dB) are three times more likely to have a history of falling.
  • Every additional 10 dB of hearing loss increases the chances of falling by 1.4 times.
  • A study at the University of Washington showed individuals with hearing loss had better balance when using hearing aids than when they did not.

Though a number of misconceptions surrounding hearing loss and wearing prescription or over-the-counter hearing aids persist, the bottom line is that treating hearing loss can have a positive impact on an individual’s health and lifestyle.

A diagnostic hearing evaluation isn’t required for the purchase of over-the-counter hearing aids, but professional organizations recommend one before the purchase of any type of hearing devices. A diagnostic hearing evaluation is required for the purchase of prescription hearing aids.

This evaluation should be performed by a hearing healthcare professional, such as an audiologist. An audiologist is a degreed professional who specializes in the diagnosis and non-medical treatment of hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders.

Audiologists can:

Armed with the results of a diagnostic hearing evaluation, you will know whether you have a hearing loss, how severe it is, and the best way to treat it.

To find out if you have a hearing loss, schedule an appointment with a doctoral-level audiologist.

Survey: A Third of Americans Over 50 with Hearing Loss Say it Affects …, https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearing-news-watch/2023/mental-health-hearing-loss/.