Discover the Can-Do You, Treat Hearing Loss, BHI Urges for Better Hearing & Speech Month

WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / April 21, 2015 / Getting a hearing test and treating hearing loss can open up a whole new way of looking at life, says the Better Hearing Institute (BHI), which is raising awareness of the importance of hearing health during Better Hearing & Speech Month in May. New research from BHI shows that people with hearing loss who use hearing aids are more likely to be optimistic, tackle problems actively, have a strong social network, and feel engaged in life. 

BHI is encouraging people to take a free, quick, and confidential online hearing check at www.BetterHearing.org to determine if they need a comprehensive hearing test by a hearing healthcare professional.

Research has long shown that addressing hearing loss is one of the best things you can do to improve your quality of life, says BHI, which has been studying the effects of hearing loss and hearing aids on people’s lives for decades.

Fortunately, for the vast majority of people with hearing loss, hearing aids can help. In fact, most people who currently wear hearing aids and participated in a recent BHI survey say it helps their overall ability to communicate effectively in most situations, along with having a positive effect on their relationships, work performance, ability to participate in group activities, and overall quality of life. Many also say they feel more confident and better about themselves as a result of using hearing aids.

For more information on hearing loss and to take the BHI Hearing Check, visit www.BetterHearing.org. Follow BHI on Twitter @better_hearing, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/betterhearinginstitute. 

6 Compelling Reasons to Upgrade Your Thinking on Hearing Aids:

Hearing aid technology and design have undergone a sweeping transformation over the past several years, taking off in terms of what they can offer youthful-minded people eager to stay active and engaged.

The new reality is that hearing loss is part of modern life for a great number of people. It’s commonplace. But new technologies are making it easier to manage hearing loss.

Below are six compelling reasons to upgrade your thinking on hearing aids and to schedule an appointment today for a comprehensive hearing test by a hearing healthcare professional.

1. Addressing hearing health may help protect cognitive function. A new study from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University found that hearing aids may slow cognitive decline tied to hearing loss, according to Reuters. The study found that estimated 20-year rates of decline in memory and global function were greatest in participants who did not use a hearing aid. Earlier studies have linked hearing loss to dementia and cognitive issues.

2. State-of-the-art features make today’s hearing aids better than ever. Many hearing aids are virtually invisible, sitting discreetly and comfortably inside the ear canal. Many can adjust to all kinds of noise environments and pick up sound from all directions. Best of all, many are wireless. Many of today’s hearing aids can stream sound directly from your smartphone, home entertainment system, and other electronics directly into the hearing aid itself-at volumes just right for you. Some are even waterproof.

3. Using hearing aids may help unleash earning potential. BHI research has found that using hearing aids reduced the risk of income loss by 90 to 100 percent for those with milder hearing loss, and from 65 to 77 percent for those with severe to moderate hearing loss. People with untreated hearing loss can lose as much as $30,000 in income annually, the study found.

4. Many hearing aids can help mask ringing in the ears. Tinnitus affects nearly 50 million Americans and is often the result of noise exposure. It is almost always accompanied by hearing loss. The good news is that many hearing aids can help reduce the prominence of tinnitus by amplifying background sound. Just taking the focus off the tinnitus can provide relief for many people. Hearing aids also help reduce the stress associated with intensive listening, which alone can help relieve tinnitus symptoms.

5. More than 9 out of 10 of the newest hearing aid owners are happy. As many as 91 percent of all owners of the newest hearing aids-those purchased in the last year-are satisfied with their hearing aids, according to recent BHI research. When you look at just those with wireless hearing aid technology, the satisfaction rates go even higher. And just think, wireless technology seems to be getting better every year.

6. Today’s hearing aid users are giving the thumbs up to others. The vast majority of current hearing aid users say they’d recommend a hearing aid to others with hearing loss. In fact, as many as 90 percent of people who purchased their hearing aid within the last four years say they’d recommend a hearing aid to a friend or family member, according to recent BHI research.

CONTACT:

The Better Hearing Institute
Media@BetterHearing.org

SOURCE: The Better Hearing Institute 

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