Many of the 76 million “baby boomers” who are reaching early to late middle age will develop a hearing loss. But how much do “boomers” know about hearing and aging?
True or False?
1. Hearing loss affects more than one in three older adults.
2. On average, older women have poorer hearing than older men.
3. Aging of ear structures is the most common cause of hearing loss in adults.
4. Older adults immediately seek help when they first notice they aren’t hearing well.
5. Almost half of all persons with hearing loss in the U.S. are over 65 years of age.
6. Presbycusis literally means “old hearing.”
7. Hearing loss in most older adults is surgically treatable.
8. Hearing aids won’t bring hearing back to normal, but they can greatly improve
a person’s hearing.
9. Hearing aids do not benefit older adults with sensorineural hearing loss.
10. Most older adults who need hearing aids are not using them.
11. In older adults hearing loss is as common as arthritis.
12. Hearing aids can improve the social interaction of a person with a hearing loss.
13. Hearing loss affects both mental and physical health.
14. Medicare covers the cost of hearing aids.
15. A hearing aid is less conspicuous than a person’s hearing loss.
16. Older adults with hearing loss are good speech readers.
17. Motivation is the primary factor in determining successful adjustment to hearing
loss.
18. Older men are more reluctant to seek help for their hearing loss than older women.
19. Other people notice a person’s hearing loss before the person notices it.
Answers: 1 – True, 2 – False, 3 – True, 4 – False, 5 – True, 6 – True, 7 – False, 8 – True, 9 – False, 10 – True, 11 – False, 12 – True, 13 – True, 14 – False, 15 – True, 16 – False, 17 – True, 18 – True, 19 – True.
Patrice Rifkind Au.D., along with Nola Aronson, M.A ,Ginny Newman Au.D., and Nina Ball, M.S., of Audiology Associates have a combined 45 years of experience fitting hearing aids and can answer any further questions you may have. Come visit our new beautiful location. For more information call 661-288-1400.