The Importance of Preventative Hearing Loss Treatment

BERKELEY — At least 28 million adults in the United States suffer from hearing loss, a condition that impacts communication and functional ability, which often leads to cognitive decline, depression and an overall decrease in quality of life. However, despite its prevalence, hearing loss is both under-recognized and under-treated. While this is partly due to the gradual nature of its progression, another reason is that its significance as a condition tends to be marginalized.

There exists a prevalent yet erroneous belief that hearing loss is a normal part of aging and isn’t readily treatable. This may account for the fact that, despite the well-documented benefits associated with hearing aid use, only 20 to 25 percent of people who could benefit from hearing aids actually get them. Furthermore, of those who do get hearing aids, as much as 30 percent end up not using them.

The reality is, when properly applied, hearing aids can greatly improve communication and cognitive function for individuals with hearing loss. Because of the condition’s progressive nature, it’s critical to implement the use of hearing aids as early as possible. The earlier the treatment, the more hearing function can be preserved.