Healthy Hearing is not waiting to check your hearing until hearing loss is so significant it’s impacting your ability to participate in your work, social events you enjoy, or conversations with loved ones. Subtle changes in hearing may not be immediately noticeable but can make a big difference in quality of life. McCollum Hearing Center can check hearing and make recommendations for improving hearing health and function and can offer tips for protecting your hearing to make sure it can serve you well for a lifetime. 

Hearing loss impacts a large number of Americans.  According to a 2016 study by the National Institutes of Health NIDCD, approximately 15 percent (37.5 million) of American adults aged 20 to 69, have some trouble with hearing and approximately 28.8 million could benefit from the use of hearing aids. As the baby boomer population ages, more Americans are forced to face hearing health challenges. Growing numbers of younger Americans are also reporting hearing problems.

While age is still the greatest factor in hearing loss, many younger people also experience hearing difficulty due to exposure to loud music and noises including occupational noise. Among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30 percent) have used them despite growing evidence that doing so results in better long-term outcomes.

Research demonstrates that untreated hearing loss in seniors is related to poor health outcomes including significantly increased falls and dementia. Individuals with even mild hearing loss experience significant impact in the form of reduced quality of life and cognitive health. Most importantly, hearing is what connects us to the people in our lives and as we age, those social connections are increasingly valuable. It’s so important that we treasure our hearing and do all we can to support healthy hearing for a lifetime.

Celebrate National Hearing Month with McCollum Hearing Center by shining the spotlight on hearing health and  encouraging those around you to be proactive with their hearing.  Lets work to together by decreasing the stigma of hearing loss and create more enriching lives by heightening awareness. 

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