February 16th, 2012Comments (0)

Silver Tsumami Blog: Can You Hear Me Now? by Anita Manning

Remember those heavy metal concerts? And all the nights cramming for exams with Handrix and Cocker screaming through the headphones?

They may be history, but the hearing damage they caused might be just getting started.

About 36 million Americans have hearing loss, according to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).[i] It’s one of the most common ailments of older people, affecting one-third of people over age 60 and half of those over 85.[ii]

Age-related hearing loss, called presbycusis, develops gradually as a result of changes to structures or blood flow to the inner ear, the hearing nerve or the way the brain processes sounds, says the American Academy of Audiology.[iii]

Exposure to loud noise can damage hearing and may cause a ringing or hissing sound in the ears known as tinnitus, which affects 25 million Americans, including 12.3% of men and nearly 14% of women 65 and older, says NIDCD.

Other causes of hearing loss can include infections, heart conditions or stroke, head injuries, tumors or medications.

Yet, despite the dire figures, a study published in late 2010[iv] reported that a comparison of hearing surveys 40 years apart suggests that Americans have better hearing today than they did in the early 1960s, particularly in higher frequencies. Loss of hearing in the upper frequencies makes it harder to distinguish speech in the presence of background noise. Researchers aren’t sure why hearing has improved in the last four decades, but they suggest that greater attention to overall health, including reduced smoking, better treatment of childhood ear infections, and improved health care for people with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases may play a role. Workplace policies that require construction and manufacturing plant workers to wear ear protection also are likely to have reduced hearing loss for many people, the researchers say.

Hearing loss is treatable, and, as with many other conditions, the sooner it is detected the more effective treatment is likely to be, says Johns Hopkins Medicine,[v] which recommends a baseline test at least once for adults between age 21 and 60. Follow-up tests are needed if the screening test detects a problem.

Hearing aids – including new, sophisticated devices that fit in or near the ear canal, products that amplify the phone or TV, and special sound systems used in auditoriums, churches or other large spaces – are among options to improve life for people with hearing loss.

Paying for a hearing aid can be a challenge, though. The AARP says prices vary from $1,200 for a low-end device to $3,700 for a top-of-the-line hearing aid, and 80% of people need two.[vi]

Medicare doesn’t cover them and in most states, private insurance doesn’t either (exceptions are New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Arkansas, which require insurance companies to offer some coverage for adults). Many audiologists will reduce retail prices in some cases or establish a payment plan, and there are non-profits that offer assistance. Veterans can receive coverage if their hearing loss is related to their service or a condition being treated at a VA hospital, or if the loss interferes with daily activities.

Even though hearing loss can reduce quality of life for older people, it’s not likely that insurers, whether private or government-funded, will expand coverage to include hearing aids. Given that reality, it may be up to community groups, audiology associations, manufacturers and family members acting as advocates to step in, to make sure hearing tests are performed and that no one who needs a hearing aid has to do without one.

Anita Manning is a former award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. During her more than 28 years with Gannett and USA Today, she covered a wide range of health topics, focusing primarily on infectious diseases, vaccines and diabetes. Her beat areas also included pandemic preparedness, bioterrorism and food safety. Anita also has served as a media consultant, working with clients, including pharmaceutical companies and non-profits. She has been a featured speaker or panelist at meetings sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

[i] http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/Pages/quick.aspx

[ii] http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/Pages/older.aspx

[iii] http://www.audiology.org/resources/consumer/Documents/AgeRelated_hearingLoss.pdf

[iv] http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/news/releases/10/Pages/121710.aspx

[v] http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/hearing/hearing_testing/index.html

[vi] http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-05-2011/paying-for-hearing-aids.html

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