Hearing loss is not normal
By Mary Malik
“No degree of hearing loss is normal,” says Morgan Faldowski, Au.D, of Sounds of Life Hearing. “If you are experiencing any hearing loss, it should be evaluated and treated. There are things that can be done to get you on a path to better hearing and improved quality of life.”
With Americans living longer than ever before, it’s even more important to do the things necessary to promote healthy aging, and one of those things is paying attention to hearing health.
According to a study in the American Journal of Public Health, 68% of people over age 70 and 90% of people over age 80 have some degree of hearing loss. Left untreated, hearing loss dramatically impacts quality of life.
“Hearing loss is the number one modifiable risk factor for dementia,” says Dr. Faldowski. “Some risks we can control like more exercise, sleep and better overall health and some we cannot, including genetics and other brain development issues. But treating hearing loss is the number one controllable factor.”
Dr. Faldowski identifies three reasons why the longer you wait to address hearing loss, the more difficult it can be to treat.
- With hearing loss, the brain filters out certain speech sounds. Left untreated, the brain “forgets” how to process the sounds it hasn’t heard in a long time. The sooner hearing loss is treated, the better the brain maintains the ability to process speech clearly.
- Once a person adjusts to hearing loss, it can be difficult to acclimate to hearing at a regular volume again. The sooner the loss is treated, the easier the transition is.
- For hearing loss on any level, the brain works harder using speechreading cues and context cues to try and understand what is being said. To improve brain health, give it a rest and schedule a baseline hearing test at Sounds of Life Hearing Center.
Sounds of Life Hearing Center is located at 8003 Auburn Road, Suite 4 in Concord Township. For more information call 440-579-4085 or check the website SoundsOfLifeHC.com.