Audiologists and other hearing care professionals need to demonstrate hearing aid benefits to their patients – especially to those who may resist getting hearing aids. People know that hearing aids will improve their hearing – but they likely don’t know that it can also improve their heart health, mental well-being, social lives, and so much more. 

A recent survey showed that people with severe untreated hearing loss were more likely to be in poor health, and less likely to leave home or exercise regularly. Conversely, people who wore hearing aids to improve their hearing reported better health, went out more often, and exercised more frequently. Various studies have shown the vast benefits of hearing aids, which improve all aspects of people’s health, social life, and quality of life. 

Numerous studies demonstrate that people with untreated hearing loss are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, loneliness, and isolation. In contrast, one study discovered that after people got their first hearing aids, they cut the risk of developing dementia by 18% and anxiety or depression by 11%. A survey by the National Council on Aging confirmed that people with untreated hearing loss are more likely to have depression and anxiety than those who use hearing aids.  

Did you know that low-frequency hearing loss may be a marker for an increased chance of stroke and heart attack? A study found that people with poor scores on various heart risk factors had more severe hearing loss. On the other hand, better scores on those heart risk factors (e.g., healthy weight, physical activity, good blood pressure and fasting glucose) were linked to better hearing. Other researchers linked untreated hearing loss in men to a greater chance of death within five years, usually from heart disease.

And yet another study found that men with untreated hearing loss were 33% more likely to have a stroke or heart attack and die vs. men without hearing issues – but wearing a hearing aid lowered the risk of these cardiovascular events. Researchers aren’t certain why hearing aids were connected to lower risk of heart disease and stroke, though it may indicate that these men are taking better care of their health overall.  

Hearing loss can make it difficult to maintain good relationships with a spouse or partner, friends, family, and colleagues. Relationship problems often stem from communication difficulties, which are common among people with hearing impairment. People with hearing loss also tend to have difficulties following conversations in social situations, especially in loud, crowded environments, which put a strain on their social lives. People with untreated hearing loss frequently avoid social situations due to frustration or embarrassment over being unable to hear properly. As a result, they may lose friends, stop getting invited to dinners, parties, and other events, and increasingly feel isolated and depressed.

A British study found that 44% of those surveyed said relationships with their partner, friends, or family suffered because they couldn't hear properly, 52% said they feel left out and ignored in social situations because they couldn’t participate in conversations, and 34% lost touch with friends or had their marriages fail due to their untreated hearing loss. Backing up this data, a Hear the World Foundation survey found that, for 70% of respondents, hearing aids improved their relationships. 

For those with severe untreated hearing loss, living independently can pose safety concerns. For example, if an individual cannot hear doorbells or fire alarms in homes without assistive versions of these devices. Additionally, some people can become anxious in crowded situations if they can't hear properly. This can result in anxiety surrounding errands or other activities out of the house. When individuals with hearing loss obtain hearing aids, their self-confidence and independence often improve.

Hearing loss can be detrimental in the workplace. For instance, being unable to hear instructions properly often means that employees make more mistakes and are perceived as poor performers. Then, the poor performance can have a variety of negative outcomes, including getting fired or laid off, getting passed over for promotions, and even receiving a lower salary. For instance, jobs involving regularly speaking on the phone, speaking to customers, or performing in loud environments can be especially difficult for people with untreated hearing loss.

Unfortunately, people often receive decreased pay as a result of their hearing impairment – and can actually lose as much as $12,000 in income annually. In addition, people with severe hearing loss have unemployment rates that are double the rates of people without hearing loss, and nearly double the rate of people who wear hearing aids. 

Your patients might not realize the correlation between hearing loss and balance problems. Individuals with untreated hearing loss are three times more likely to fall than people with proper (or corrected) hearing, and that risk increases by 140% for every additional 10 decibels of hearing loss. 

Experts say that balance requires brain power, but when people can’t hear properly, they must use considerable brain power to try and decipher sounds, making them more susceptible to falls. Individuals that use hearing aids and other devices to improve their hearing often see improvement in their balance, as well.  

Many people with hearing loss have trouble deciphering where words begin and end, which makes it challenging for them to participate in conversations. They must often ask family, friends, and colleagues to repeat themselves, which can be frustrating for the person with hearing loss as well as their loved ones. It can be embarrassing for people with hearing loss to constantly ask people to repeat themselves – or to frequently say, “what?” or “huh?” when they can’t hear or follow conversations. It’s common for people to feel “older” or “more out of it” when they can’t hear – and can’t participate in conversations. Interestingly, a lot of people actually find it less stigmatizing and noticeable to wear hearing aids vs. asking their loved ones to repeat themselves constantly. Often, patients report feeling much better when they get hearing aids, saying that others perceive them more positively when they’re no longer struggling to hear. 

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