Even though hearing loss is an incredibly common condition, only a fraction of people who have hearing loss actually seek treatment for it.
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, “among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30 percent) has ever used them. Even fewer adults aged 20 to 69 (approximately 16 percent) who could benefit from wearing hearing aids have ever used them.”
While several reasons exist as to why a person might choose not to treat their hearing loss, perceived stigma plays a clear role in some people’s decisions.
Stigma Prevents People From Treating Their Hearing Loss
A study published in The Gerontologist sought to explore how perceived stigma affected older adults with hearing loss.
They conducted interviews with participants and their spouses or partners over the course of one year and found that “perceived stigma emerged as influencing decision-making processes at multiple points along the experiential continuum of hearing loss, such as initial acceptance of hearing loss, whether to be tested, type of hearing aid selected, and when and where hearing aids were worn.”
The Risks of Untreated Hearing Loss
That hearing aid stigma prevents people from getting help is unfortunate for a variety of reasons. Hearing loss makes it harder to connect with people, whether at work, over the phone or during a social meetup at the Manassas Park Community Center. This lack of connection can put a strain on your relationships and lead to loneliness and isolation.
Not only that, but untreated hearing loss also puts you at a greater risk of anxiety and depression, balance issues and injuries from falls, cognitive decline and dementia.
Challenging Hearing Aid Perceptions
In addition to being risky to your well-being and health, the stigma around using hearing aids is also just wrong. Today’s devices are small and discreet, with certain models being practically invisible to the naked eye. They are equipped with technology that lets you connect to other devices and stream audio directly into them, and they can adjust their settings automatically to give you the best hearing in any environment.
Hearing aids let you feel confident in your ability to navigate conversations without always having to ask others to repeat themselves or misunderstand what was said. In this way, they actually may make you appear more capable than you would without them.
To learn more about what hearing aids might be best for you, call ENT Specialists Of Northern Virginia and schedule an appointment with one of our specialists!