So why are we so opposed to wearing hearing aids?
By Barbara Pierce

The statistics are alarming.
Almost all of us will lose our hearing as we age.
According to a recent study published in JAMA.com (the Journal of the American Medical Association), 65% of people older than 70 have hearing loss; 96% have hearing loss by the age of 90.
These startling findings show that most of us lose our ability to hear as we age.
“I compare hearing loss as we age to expecting that you’ll need glasses to see up close as you get older,” said board-certified hearing instrument specialist Robert Bishton, of Hamilton Hearing in Hamilton. “Hearing loss is common; in fact, it’s the third most common affliction as we age; only exceeded by hypertension and arthritis.”
Some degree of hearing loss is normal as we age, but it’s usually so gradual we don’t notice it. However, we lose a lot of our ability to hear before it becomes something we must deal with. Most of us don’t ignore our vision deficits; we wear the glasses prescribed for us. But most of us ignore our hearing deficits.
According to the National Institutes of Health, among older adults with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three use them. Hearing aids are the most common treatment for hearing loss; more than 90% of persons with hearing loss can be successfully treated with hearing aids.
Yet we don’t want to wear them.
Why are we so opposed to wearing hearing aids?
We don’t want to admit we have trouble hearing, say experts. Admitting to hearing loss makes one feel old; there’s a social stigma around this. Others may not realize their hearing is diminishing or just consider it a normal part of aging or can’t afford the cost of hearing aids.
Left untreated, hearing loss can have serious consequences.
“Untreated hearing loss has been linked to cognitive decline and even Alzheimer’s and shouldn’t be ignored. We hear with our brain and hearing aids worn on a daily basis keep the ear-to-brain connection intact,” suggested Bishton.
Research shows that, if you have hearing loss, you have a greater chance of developing dementia. The more hearing loss you have, the more risk you have of developing dementia. Untreated hearing loss is one of the top risk factors for dementia. Our cognitive abilities decline faster when we can’t hear well.
Those who wear hearing aids have less of a risk. A study at Johns Hopkins found that hearing aids reduced the rate of cognitive decline in older adults by almost 50%. That’s a significant statistic.
The association between hearing loss and dementia is well-established. It’s crucial to take steps to reduce the risks. How hearing loss is linked to dementia isn’t yet clear and studies point to several possible mechanisms.
“Hearing loss makes the brain work harder, forcing it to strain to hear and fill in the gaps. That comes at the expense of other thinking and memory systems,” said Bishton. “Another possibility is that hearing loss causes the aging brain to shrink more quickly. A third possibility is that hearing loss leads people to be less socially engaged, which is hugely important to remaining intellectually stimulated. If you can’t hear very well, you may not go out as much, so the brain is less engaged and active.”
Without question, the most challenging aspect of hearing loss is the effect it has on our relationships. Hearing loss makes it more difficult to interact with people. When people have a hard time hearing what others are saying, they often start to avoid situations where they know they will experience difficulty hearing. Similarly, loved ones may find communicating with a person with a hearing loss too difficult and avoid speaking with them.
This can lead to social isolation, which can lead to depression. The combination of isolation and depression is also a risk for dementia. Frequently, a person with a hearing loss may be mistaken for one with dementia.
According to a study, hearing loss was significantly associated with an increased risk of depression in adults of all ages. Untreated hearing loss, social isolation and depression all contribute to an overall poorer quality of life.
Hearing loss also causes falls. Even a mild degree of hearing loss triples the risk of an accidental fall. In the ear, balance and hearing are directly connected, sharing a common nerve pathway to the brain.
“While there’s nothing you can do to prevent a hearing loss from progressing, the earlier you make the decision to treat your hearing loss with hearing aids, the better the long-term outcome will be,” said Bishton.
Experts recommend that everyone have their hearing tested once a year, to identify issues early on and treat them.
“Hearing aids today are fantastic and many insurance plans today have some coverage. If you have hearing loss, get it diagnosed and treated and live life to the fullest,” he advised.