Hearing loss: Are you putting off getting help?

Jan 18, 2022 | Marie Suszynski, Writer | @mariemayohecs | Comments (4)

If you’re having trouble even thinking about talking to your doctor about your hearing loss, you’re not alone. Many people deny that they’re having trouble hearing and put off a visit to the doctor.

Here are a few reasons why:

It’s so gradual, you don’t notice it — Hearing loss usually develops over time, so you may not recognize the problem at first. Without even realizing it, you may have found ways to compensate for your hearing loss. For example, maybe you’ve gotten good at reading people’s lips.
You’re hearing people just fine — you just don’t always understand them — Many people underestimate the severity of their hearing loss. When people lose their hearing, they tend to lose the ability to hear high-pitched tones first, like consonant sounds. Consonants are the sounds of speech that provide clarity and crispness to what you hear. So when you experience hearing loss, voices may still sound loud, but they also seem unclear.
You don’t want people to think you’re old or incapable — Many people are concerned they’ll be stigmatized just by wearing a hearing aid. A common concern expressed by people coming to terms with hearing loss is that others might assume they’re also losing the ability to think and act independently.

The truth is, hearing loss is more common than you might realize — and there’s no shame in coming to terms with it and taking steps to make your situation better. The sooner you seek help to improve your hearing, the more quickly you can get back to all the things about your life that make it worth living.

Head to the Hearing Loss group for more conversations like this.

If this rings true, learn more about hearing issues with Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance.

Interested in more newsfeed posts like this? Go to the Aging & Health: Take Charge blog.

fromthehill | @fromthehill | Jan 20, 2022

This is very encouraging, my reluctance is that my late husband got hearing aides but the sound was very distorted despite many tune up visits. It was too expensive, but the person was very nice and had been recommended by a friend. We ended up not using them and concentrated one having one on one conversations and smaller gatherings.

maggieb892 | @maggieb892 | Jan 2 9:10am

I had a base line hearing test recently after noting some loss. Medicare denied ay coverage. Is that normal?

jojo | @jord | Jan 3 10:27am

Coverage for hearing aides? They should not. Maybe call Medicare and ask why. Hearing loss can cause dementia.

Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Jan 3 1:04pm

In reply to @maggieb892 "I had a base line hearing test recently after noting some loss. Medicare denied ay coverage...." + (show)

It's unfortunate and disgusting that Medicare and most insurance programs don't cover the cost of hearing aids. Most plans do cover an exam by a professional audiologist though. By 'professional' I mean those who have AuD after their name as they have doctorate level degrees in the field. It's a good idea to take advantage of getting a thorough exam done by an AuD.

You have a right to a copy of the audiogram generated by that testing. If hearing aids are recommended, you can choose to purchase them from the AuD who tested you OR take your test results (audiogram) elsewhere and shop around a bit. Good quality hearing aids can be far less costly in some places. They can be fit to the audiogram you have.

IMPORTANT: When being fitted with hearing aids it is extremely important to read the fine print in the contract you receive. Discuss it. You need a minimum of 30 days to try the technology in every possible place where you want to hear. More time is better. Some of the big box stores like Costco offer 6 months. Negotiate with your provider if you don't feel a trial period is enough time. It takes time to adjust to hearing aids. They are not magic devices that work like glasses. Even with well fit hearing aids you will still struggle in some environments. Especially in places where background noise is prevalent. It gets better, but it will not get perfect in spite of some of the advertising you see on TV.

It makes sense to get hearing help. Research does show that untreated hearing loss can easily create social isolation. That creates loneliness for some, and loneliness can lead to depression. All those negatives can lead to the illusion and possibility that a person is experiencing cognitive decline. None of us want that.