Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends

Explore news, videos, and much more based on what your friends are reading and watching. Publish your own activity and retain full control.

To get started, first

YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Millions of Americans Have Untreated Hearing Loss: Study

    HealthDay – Wed, Feb 15, 2012

    WEDNESDAY, Feb. 15 (HealthDay News) -- About 27 million Americans aged 50 and older have lost some of their hearing and could benefit from a hearing aid, a new study finds.

    However, many people don't get hearing aids because they're often not covered by insurance, they don't receive training in integrating hearing aids into their daily lives, or they consider hearing loss an inevitable part of aging and not a major concern, according to the researchers.

    "There's still a perception among the public and many medical professionals that hearing loss is an inconsequential part of the aging process and you can't do anything about it," said study senior author Dr. Frank Lin, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Bloomberg School of Public Health, in a university news release. "We want to turn that idea around."

    The study is published online Feb. 13 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

    The researchers examined information on hearing aid use and hearing testing among participants of the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted between 1999 and 2006.

    About 14 percent of people aged 50 and older use hearing aids. That ranged from 4 percent of 50- to 59-year-olds to 22 percent of people aged 80 and older.

    Although more people used hearing aids as they got older, the study's authors suggested 23 million more people could benefit from hearing aids if they used them.

    "Understanding current rates of hearing loss treatment is important, as evidence is beginning to surface that hearing loss is associated with poorer cognitive functioning and the risk of dementia," Lin said. "Previous studies that have attempted to estimate hearing-aid use have relied on industry marketing data or focused on specific groups that don't represent a true sample of the United States population."

    More information

    The U.S. National Institutes of Health provides more information on hearing aids.

     

    22 comments

    • Workhorse11
      Workhorse11  •  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      Most of us with hearing loss cannot afford hearing aids. I have had hearing problems for the past 25 years and it is very unfortunate for everyone.
    • TOO OLD
      TOO OLD  •  3 mths ago
      I was told long ago that I needed hearing aids. I was also told what they cost. I still don't have them.
    • Ghost
      Ghost  •  3 mths ago
      The entire government has a hearing loss as they seem to not hear WHAT AMERICANS WANT AND VOTED FOR !!
    • Zee
      Zee  •  Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin  •  3 mths ago
      As a retired ATT EE with more than average knowledge about sound, voice, analog and digital subject areas, I studied the heck out of hearing aids before taking the leap. I knew many old guys end up tossing them in a drawer and forgetting them. I am close to that too. The trouble with technology is that you don't find out the pros and cons without trying it out. My studies resulted in bupkis, and the suspicion of conspiracy in the hearing aid industry. Bottom line, aids do not do what you expect. They add unnecessary sounds. You are placed in a position to fight your Audiologist and family. Non users have no idea what adaptations you are being forced to make. Lastly, the only insurance found was for children.
    • Sandy
      Sandy  •  3 mths ago
      Wonderfull..Now lets make this a part of insurance coverage..By the time you retire,pay your medicare,eye glasses,dental care what is left for hearing tests & aids?The average for both ears is $5,000. I know because we just had my husband tested and that was the price...Even with insurance his eye surgery out of pocket cost for us was $1,890...This with a senior advantage policy on top of what he gives to medicare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Something is very WRONG with this..
    • Mike
      Mike  •  Tampa, Florida  •  3 mths ago
      Any new tratments for tinnitus? I was told to "get used to it".
      • ca2000
        ca2000 3 mths ago
        That's what I keep waiting for also. The ringing/hissing I have gotten used to; sometimes very loud, sometimes, not as loud, but always there. I keep asking my wife "can't you hear that ringing"? lol. but it would be nice to be rid of it.
      • alanm
        alanm 3 mths ago
        Stem cells. Other countries are more advanced medically than us now so out of the country is usually better for stem cell treatments. Still a way to go for the science.
      • TimD
        TimD 3 mths ago
        xanax helps for me along with sound masking...nothing new though. Reduce salt and caffeine intake as well. still very nerve wracking at times....
    • johnSr
      johnSr  •  3 mths ago
      I imagine for most it is the just the question of " do I want to hear well or do I want to eat and be able to afford half of my meds" .Seems the price for hearing aids are going up instead of down with mass production.
    • wylie
      wylie  •  Phoenix, Arizona  •  3 mths ago
      Not only are they expensive but are not warrenteed for very long either. I'd love to have a couple of nice digital aids but can't afford them.
    • Independent Bob
      Independent Bob  •  3 mths ago
      Most who need hearing aids can't afford the many thousands of dollars needed to purchase them. Most insurance does NOT cover ANY hearing help whatsoever. No sure why that is but it sucks for many of our seniors.
    • Terry
      Terry  •  Lancaster, California  •  3 mths ago
      I am not surprised at this article. I am 68 years old and was at a company party. The music was so loud that I could not talk to the person next to me. I left early. That is the last company party I shall attend. So these kids go to clubs and loose their hearing because of the loud music. Dump the amplifiers and bring back acoustic music.
      • alanm
        alanm 3 mths ago
        Why not use ear plugs. I've worked thousands of concerts and I can hear fine. A friend told me she was being woken up by construction, I pulled out a couple of ear plugs and told her they can help. Is loud music in clubs the only loud noises you are around? What about trains?
    • OnesAndZeros
      OnesAndZeros  •  3 mths ago
      What did you say?
    • A_Nonny_Moose
      A_Nonny_Moose  •  3 mths ago
      Hearing aids - jack up the sound until it causes further damage to the ear.
      And they call that a 'solution'.
    • Fred
      Fred  •  Meriden, Connecticut  •  3 mths ago
      With how cheaply electronics can be made these days, I don't understand why hearing aids should cost so much. Maybe if they were less expensive, more people who really need them but can't afford them would in turn buy some.
    • Marilyn
      Marilyn  •  3 mths ago
      I bought hi tech hearing aids as I neared 60. They quit working well and ran through batteries after 3 years. They magnified EVERYTHING and the touted volume control didn't work. When they gave up the ghose I had retired and had a very limited social life. Never replaced them because I couldn't afford the $6K. Price should have come down over the years but it didn't work that way. Medicare doesn't cover insulin, hearing aids, or glaucoma drops, all definitely problems with aging. It is not just a matter of social conversations but hearing timers, water running in the house, too loud TVs, traffic sounds, etc.
    • who cares
      who cares  •  Boston, Massachusetts  •  3 mths ago
      what?
    • Gholamhosain Tasbihi
      Gholamhosain Tasbihi  •  Tabriz, Iran  •  3 mths ago
      Studies and research on hearing problems is much less than studies and research on eyes. Even hearing aid workers and specialists on hearing issues are much minor and less qualified than those high specialist on eyes problems.
    • OuterLimits
      OuterLimits  •  3 mths ago
      Personally, I'm waiting for the process to be complete so I can stop having to listen to the tedious, inane babbling that seems to have become our so-called culture.
    • Nancy Truax
      Nancy Truax  •  Mishawaka, Indiana  •  3 mths ago
      TOO EXPENSIVE...HUGE MARKUP!!!!!
    • Shilo
      Shilo  •  3 mths ago
      After 50, thats one of the benefits. Cant hear the wife, whining kids, the neighbors, the news, irritating people, politicians (really irritating) and most importantly, the boss. Why would you want a hearing aid?
    • coyote kid
      coyote kid  •  San Antonio, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      I too have hearing loss and of course the doctors say i need hearing aids at 1500 hundred dollars per ear. The good thing about it that when I don't want to hear my wife complain I just shut my eyes.
     Post a comment
    [ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
    [ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

    News For You

    Loading...