Untreated Hearing Loss Can Affect Your Overall Health

Approximately 15 percent of American adults (37.5 million) ages 18 and above report some trouble hearing, according to the National Center for Health Statistics as reported by the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders. 

But delaying treatment for hearing loss can have serious effects on other aspects of one’s health. 

“Often the person with hearing loss doesn't realize they're having difficulty because it happens gradually and they become accustomed to it,” said Lindsay Bondurant, PhD, CCC-A, director of the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI), Salus at Drexel University. “Friends and loved ones are often the first people to notice someone's hearing loss.” 

For example, those with mild hearing loss are three times more likely to experience a fall. This may be the result of an increased cognitive load and/or reduced awareness of surroundings. In addition, those with untreated hearing loss are at a higher risk of developing depression and untreated hearing loss has been linked to an increase in cognitive decline. 

In an effort to protect your hearing, here are some tips to consider when noise levels are too loud and the ability to hear things clearly may be compromised: 

• You must raise your voice to be heard.
• You can’t hear someone three feet away from you.
• Speech sounds are muffled or dull after listening to loud sounds.
• You have pain or ringing in your ears – known as tinnitus – after listening to loud sounds.

To schedule your hearing evaluation with one of the audiologists at the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI), call 215.780.3180.