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Are you contemplating the decision to buy a hearing device for yourself or a family member? What should you know about hearing aides? First off, note that our baby boomer generation, which is now approaching retirement age, is at an increased risk of developing hearing problems and more so than any previous generation. Why is this? Because our largest segment of population is also the noisiest one in history. We are the generation that turned up the boom boxes, that created superfast jet planes, and that filled sports stadiums with enthusiastic cheering. The fact that the baby-boomer generation is living longer also contributes to the problem.

Unfortunately for our younger generation, more problems are being reported in individuals who are between the ages 18-65. In fact, 40% of the hearing impaired population are actually younger than 65 years of age. 15% of college graduates have even cited problems with hearing. The statistics are sobering—one in every ten people has experienced some degree of hearing loss.

Just how serious of a problem is this? Are hearing aids really necessary? Hearing problems is obviously not a terminal condition. You won’t damage your body by refusing to get help. However, you will compromise the quality of your life. The facts show that when you deprive yourself of the natural ability to hear, you will subject your brain to auditory deprivation. When you stop hearing to your full ability you also bring on a slight decrease in speech understanding. The auditory centers in the brain must be kept active to perform to their full potential. Thus, using hearing aids can hinder the effects of auditory deprivation.

There is a great deal of personal suffering that accompanies hearing problems. Studies show that people who cannot easily hear tend to suffer from depression and social isolation. They feel as if they can’t relate to people. They may start to feel sad about growing older or the person that they used to be. They also alienate family members who dislike having to constantly yell, especially if they wish to convey warm sentiments. Last but not least, there is some evidence to suggest that people who cannot hear very well can be discriminated against at work. This problem might not even count as a “disability”, since it does not involve total deafness. Besides, most of the time these individuals won’t even acknowledge that they have a problem.

Why not consider hearing aids as a permanent solution? Misconceptions abound regarding the inconvenience of an aid. Some people fear it will be too expensive, too awkward to wear, or too ugly. In fact, the best aids of today are practically invisible and very easily fit inside or outside the ear. The average person waits over five years to seek any real help with hearing problems. This stalling only makes the problem worse. Why not seek help for hearing loss early on? You can go in for a free test at a hearing aid facility or to an ENT doctor. Do not neglect this problem. There are solutions available. You can start hearing again and get a major part of your life back!