Improved hearing can benefit your overall quality of life by helping you: 

• Feel included and participate more in group settings

• Regain lost closeness with friends and loved ones

• Feel more confident and secure

You may be surprised to find out just how prevalent hearing loss is. 

• More than 4 million Americans age 65+ and almost 6 million Americans under age 65 have reported having a hearing impairment 

• An estimated 31 million Americans actually have a hearing impairment 

• 10 million Americans have suffered irreversible noise-induced hearing loss, and 30 million more are exposed to dangerous noise levels each day. 

• Only 1 out of 5 people who could benefit from hearing aids actually wears them.

These statistics tell us that a growing number of people of all ages are affected by hearing loss, yet only a fraction of them are diagnosed and treated with hearing aids.

Do I have a hearing problem?

Ask yourself the following questions. If you answer “yes” to three or more of these questions, you could have a hearing problem and may need to have your hearing checked by an audiologist. 

Yes No

Do I have a problem hearing on the telephone? 

Do I have trouble hearing when there is noise in the background?

Is it hard for me to follow a conversation when two or more people talk at once?

Do I have to strain to understand a conversation?

Do many people I talk to seem to mumble (or not speak clearly)?

Do I misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?

Do I often ask people to repeat themselves?

Do I have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?

Do people complain that I turn the TV volume up too high?

Do I hear a ringing, roaring, or hissing sound a lot?

Do some sounds seem too loud?

What should I do?

Hearing problems are serious.  If you suspect you have some hearing loss, contact an audiologist for a professional hearing assessment. When hearing loss goes untreated, your overall quality of life could suffer. You may miss the sounds of songbirds, having everyday conversations, and watching TV. Your hearing loss also affects family, friends, and co-workers who may struggle to communicate effectively with you. 

During your visit, an audiologist will perform a comprehensive audiogram or hearing test.   These evaluations are used to differentiate patients who have auditory problems related to medical conditions versus those disorders that result solely in communication impairments. The diagnostic medical tests are usually covered by health insurance.

In some instances, medical or surgical treatment may be indicated, but most hearing losses are easily treated with amplification (hearing aids or assistive listening devices).