Year in and year out, people make the same resolutions. Lose weight, exercise more, eat more whole grains and fresh vegetables and less fat, carbs, and junk food. And every year they fail. What about making a different kind of resolution this year? One that will be easier to keep and will have a positive impact on your quality of life? We’re talking about hearing aids, of course, and the benefits of treating hearing loss.
Given that over 30 million Americans, or approximately one in 13 Americans, suffer from hearing loss, you are not alone. Do you ever find yourself or your spouse making any of the following excuses to cover for trouble hearing?
It’s not me, it’s you
Why do people mumble so much? Why don’t people look me in the eye when speaking? After all, I can hear just fine.
While all of these statements may be true, there’s more to it than that. Hearing loss is often gradual. You’ve probably been compensating for the changes in your hearing by turning up the volume on the radio and TV, unconsciously reading lips, and even standing at the edge of group conversations, nodding your head in agreement and then turning to the person next to you to have them repeat the conversation.
There’s only one way to know for sure. Get your hearing tested — for free!
What will people at work say
Like your friends and family, your coworkers will probably be relieved not to have to continuously repeat themselves. Some may be curious why you got hearing aids, others may want to know more about them for themselves or family members. Given the smaller, very discrete size of the current generation of high tech hearing aids, your coworkers may only notice you seem more engaged, with higher energy levels and fewer questions.
Straining to hear clearly at work all day is mentally and physically exhausting; hearing aids may help you enjoy work more and feel less isolated or down in the dumps about the daily fight to hear. Meetings, casual conversations in the office, and planning on the production floor all become easier and safer when you can hear what is going on around you.
In addition, it is worth noting that untreated hearing loss has been linked to lower wages and increased unemployment. Think of hearing aids as an investment in your future and overall quality of life.
Hearing aids are for old people
Hearing aids are for people with hearing loss, and hearing loss can occur at any age due to illness or injury. Did you know one in eight people in the United States aged 12 years or older has hearing loss in both ears, and that about two percent of adults aged 45 to 54 have disabling hearing loss? That rate increases to 8.5 percent for adults aged 55 to 64. Nearly 25 percent of those aged 65 to 74, and 50 percent of those who are 75 and older, have disabling hearing loss.
While many people are diagnosed with age-related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) affects about 15% of the U.S. population. Hearing loss can be caused by a one-time exposure to an intense sound like an explosion, or by continuous exposure to loud sounds over an extended period of time. This affects many people who work in loud factories, shops, or construction sites, or people who participate in loud recreational activities like target shooting and hunting, concert-going, motorcycling, or attending sporting events. Even at-home chores, such as mowing the lawn or snow blowing, can cause a need for a hearing aid.
Hearing aids will make my hearing loss worse
Hearing loss is typically gradual and progressive, unless it is caused by injury or illness. Keep in mind; hearing loss is a common part of the aging process. If you have some degree of hearing loss and are struggling to understand speech, that problem will only continue to get worse without the use of hearing aids. However, hearing aids will not restore your hearing to what it was like when you were 18.
Hearing is a use it or lose it sense. The parts of your brain that process sound will atrophy if not properly stimulated by sound. You may lose the ability for your brain to understand speech; studies from leading medical institutions have linked untreated hearing to potentially deadly slip and fall accidents, an increase in the onset of dementia, and a rise in the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
I can’t afford the cost of hearing aids
Explore your options. Hearing aids are more affordable than you think. Get FDA-registered hearing aids, not some cheap drug store gadget or late night TV $19.95 amplifier that makes everything louder, with no refinement, processing, or clarity.
MDHearing specializes in high-quality, doctor-designed, audiologist-tested, affordable, FDA-registered hearing aids. There is no reason to pay close to $5,000 for a pair of hearing aids when you can purchase a hearing aid from as low as $17 per month. Choose from a variety of one-size-fits-most hearing aids. Experience top drawer customer service. Take the in-home, 45-day risk-free trial. Make the most of the flexible finance options and the convenience of online ordering. No big-box store parking lots, no doctor’s office markups, none of the hassles of appointments and ongoing adjustments.
We’re here to help you enjoy a better life this year and every year through better hearing. MDHearing stands behind every one of our hearing aids with a 45-day risk-free trial, 100% money-back guarantee and unprecedented 24 hours a day, 7 days a week customer support.