Hearing loss is America’s silent epidemic. It can have a more negative impact on the quality of life than obesity, diabetes, strokes or even cancer. Yet according to an AARP survey, more people report having gotten colonoscopies than hearing tests.
The above is an excerpt from an AARP article – click here to read the entire article. Below are some of the salient take-aways from this article:
- Hearing loss is associated with an increased risk of dementia, falls and depression
- It is a serious contributing factor to social isolation and loneliness, and has been linked to poorer job performance and lower salaries
- People are reluctant to get their hearing checked because hearing loss carries the stigma of being old
- 30% of people in their 50s suffer from hearing loss
- 45% of people in their 60s suffer from hearing loss
- 66% of people in their 70s suffer from hearing loss
- The average adult waits 7-10 years to get a hearing device
- Only 20-30% of all adults who could benefit from a hearing solution end up getting one
Now back to my comments…. Health Insurance and Medicare does not cover hearing aids (although some Medicare Advantage Plans offer allowances). Fortunately, there are many options becoming available that are more affordable than conventional hearing aids
Here are some websites that offer additional information:
- Eargo – I have not vetted this device (nor am I qualified to do so), but this is an example of some of the alternative options that are out there
- Consumer Reports – Hearing Aid Buying Guide
- Mayo Clinic – How to Choose the Right One
- America Hearing Association – Overview of Hearing Aids
Neil Steinman is the principal of Orange County Health & Life Insurance in Orange County, CA – and has been serving the needs of California residents for nearly 20 years.