Issue 38.14
Healthy aging is a popular topic of interest. Studies have found there are connections between healthy aging and hearing loss. Hearing loss is a very common issue. It can affect nearly every portion of a person’s life. People who have a hearing loss who can effectively use hearing devices and communications strategies may find they are able to improve their quality of life and age healthier.
About 2% of children and 7% of people under the age of 65 have a hearing loss. This percentage traumatically increases past the age of 65. About 40% of people between the ages of 65 and 84 have hearing losses. The percentage of people who have a hearing loss increases again when they past the age of 85 to about 66%. As people age they want to be able to maintain their independence, perceive themselves as healthy, be socially active, and maintain their cognition and physical abilities. Having a hearing loss greatly affects these goals if not appropriately diagnosed and treated.
As just mentioned above healthy aging includes many aspects and studies have made connections between these aspects and hearing loss. Some of these studies suggest that people with poor hearing are at an increased risk of falls, disabilities and traffic accidents. They have less functional reserve and find it more difficult to do two things at once. Hearing loss has also been found to be associated with brain atrophy, dementia and even mortality.
The last thing any of us want to have happen as we age is to be unhealthy and isolate ourselves from the experiences and relationships that matter so much to us. Having a hearing loss that goes undiagnosed, untreated or thought of as something that is not “that big of a deal” could eventually lead to these effects. The connection between hearing loss and aging healthy is real and important. By being able to effectively use hearing devices and communication strategies people with a hearing loss may be able to improve their quality of life and age healthier.
Eric Bunnell is a doctoral intern for Advanced Hearing and Balance Specialists and will be graduating in May of 2015 from Utah State University. He grew up in Ogden, graduated high school and then served a two-year LDS mission in Brazil. Eric has been married to his beautiful wife, Katie, since June of 2007. They have two boys, Samuel who is four and Kij who is one. They also have two dogs, a lab and a beaglador. He loves spending time with his family and enjoys exercising.
Eric Bunnell is a licensed Clinical Audiologist (Hearing and Balance Specialist) and can be contacted at 435-319-8127.