Download July 2015 - Hearing Loss Association of Sarasota

July 2015
The Dangers of Untreated Hearing Loss
In Sarasota/Manatee counties, there are approximately 145,000 persons living with
hearing loss. At age 65, one of three people has hearing loss.
Only 20% of individuals with hearing loss, who might benefit from treatment, actually
seek help. Unfortunately, many people wait 7- 10 years before getting treatment,
according to the (National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders –
NIDCD).
Untreated hearing loss lowers your quality of life. You feel left out, angry, frustrated,
isolated, depressed, irritated, fatigued from the strain of trying to hear.
Your psychological and overall health is diminished and untreated hearing loss
increases the individual’s susceptibility to injury and consequent illnesses. This effect is
especially high for those who live alone.
Dangers of Untreated Hearing Loss
You could face danger if you do not hear in the following situations.
Driving
sirens of emergency vehicles trying to pass you
warning honks of the horn
failure to hear engine noises, indicating that something is wrong (also with
lawnmowers) and keep on driving maybe making the problem worse
 scraping sound if you accidentally run into a building or parking block causing
more damage than you would have if you heard


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Walking

Someone behind you trying to pass when they call ‘Passing on the left’ or ‘Bicycle
approaching’
Skiing

someone trying to pass you or that another skier is close to you
Swimming

warnings and requests from the lifeguard
In the House
fire alarm, doorbell and telephone ringing, pan sizzling on the stove, water
running in the bathtub
 someone entering your house or unusual noises outside

Weather Warnings

tornadoes, hurricanes, emergency radio announcements and thunder, which
announces itself to those with normal hearing
Have you ever noticed, when emergency announcements interrupt normal TV programs
the captions disappear?
Higher Chance of Falling
People with hearing loss are three times more likely to fall, or lose their balance, than
others. Our balance is a complicated process which involves many parts of the body, but
one of the most crucial parts is the one found within the inner ear according to Dr.
Frank Lin, a professor of otolaryngology and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Lin also says the extra effort of trying to hear causes fatigue the brain and take its
focus away from other things.
Risk of Dementia
Dr. Lin’s research, and that of others, has shown that people with even mild untreated
hearing loss are two times more likely to develop dementia and that people with severe
hearing loss are five times more likely to develop dementia.
There is an excellent article – “Can getting a hearing aid prevent memory loss?” by
Katherine Griffin, (AARP.org) which discusses the possibility that treating hearing loss
more aggressively could help stave off cognitive decline and dementia.
http://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-todementia.html
What Exactly Is Dementia?
What’s confusing about dementia is that it’s not actually a disease. Rather, it’s a
collection of symptoms that can be caused by various diseases. Dementia symptoms
include impairments in thinking, communicating, and memory.
The leading cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia can also be caused by
brain damage incurred from an injury or stroke, and from other diseases like
Huntington’s or Lewy body dementia.
http://www.healthline.com/health/dementia/early-warning-signs#Communication4
Help is Available
The audiologist or ENT doctor may recommend hearing aids or cochlear implants which
improve hearing. However, they may not always be enough. Assistive Listening Devices
such as alarm clock, doorbell ringer, telephone, smoke alarms with flashing or strobe
lights help fill in the gap when you take off your hearing aid or cochlear implant.
If you know someone with untreated hearing loss, encourage them to get help from an
ENT doctor or an audiologist. The earlier the hearing loss is treated, the earlier the
quality of life can be improved and the earlier the associated dangers can be reduced.
Sources
www.HLAA.org
http://www.healthyhearing.com/report/51633-Untreated-hearing-loss-an-overlookeddanger
http://phb.secondsensehearing.com/content/dangers/untreated-hearing-loss
You do not have to face hearing loss alone. Contact your local chapter of Hearing Loss
Association of America (HLAA) where you will find support, education and advocacy
from the members and peer mentors. For more information, contact [email protected] or
call 941 320 8825