Tech plus service enables care at home.
Washington DC, August 21-25, 2024
Uncorrected hearing loss isolates and harms older adults. One in three between age 65 and 74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of people aged 75+ have some significant level of hearing loss. Note that hearing loss has been linked to dementia and to social isolation – and that in turn has been connected to poorer health outcomes. Furthermore, wearing hearing aids has been linked to fewer hospital visits. According to studies, among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in five (20 percent) has ever used them. Why such a small percentage? Experts believe that it is a combination of denial, belief that hearing loss is not severe enough, perceived stigma associated with wearing hearing aids, and a perception that they cost too much.
The market is changing – and older adults can and should benefit. At some point, family members and professionals may notice an individual’s hearing loss and may express concern. Especially now that hearing loss has been linked to an increased risk of dementia, the baby boomer population may be open to corrective possibilities before age-related hearing loss worsens and isolates them from peers and family. Experts also see the trend in self-care for all types of health concerns now includes hearing loss. Today there are numerous options for evaluating hearing loss, pricing and purchasing devices that should be part of organization and family approaches.
Recognizing this, retailers – in store and online – see a business opportunity. Audiologists recognize that their focus may have evolved to provide hearing tests as a process step for fitting an individual with appropriate hearing aids – and perhaps less on providing lower cost options such as teaching coping strategies that may be no cost or low cost. In addition, more recently the hearing aid vendors have been pressured to lower prices or offer lower-cost alternatives. For consumers and professionals, consider the role of:
Comments
How to Make a Home More User-Friendly for Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Laurie suggested adding my guide as a comment. Hope anyone that reads it, gets some use out of it. TY for letting me add this, Laurie. :-)
https://www.yourathometeam.com/deaf-or-hard-of-hearing-home-improvements/