Myths Misconceptions About Hearing Aging and Hearing Aids
Myths & Misconceptions About Hearing, Aging, and Hearing Aids Holly Hosford-Dunn Ph. D Academy Village, January 23 2013
�Myths �Misconceptions ◦ #1: Hearing Losses are All Alike ◦ #1: Hearing Declines with Age ◦ #2: Don’t Need Hearing Aids for Mild Hearing Losses ◦ #2: Don’t Get Hearing Aids Til You Really Need Them ◦ #3 & #4: Hearing Aids Don’t Work & They’re all the Same ◦ #3: Hearing Aids Keep Going Up in Price Hearing. Health. Matters. org tucsonaudiology. wordpress. com
Misconception #1 Hearing Declines with Age
Hearing Declines with Age What Makes Us Think This? � Observational Data ◦ ~30 million hearing impaired individuals in US ◦ 70% ≥ 55 years � Professional Terminology ◦ Presbycusis: Hearing Loss ≥ 65 years ◦ #1 most prevalent chronic condition in males ◦ #4 most prevalent condition in females
Yes, but… Lifestyle and Noise Are Confounding Variables � Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) ◦ nature and extent difficult to estimate 2006 � Noise ◦ ◦ totally intertwined Occupational Recreational Military Misconception #1: Hearing declines with age Rosenhall et al
Presbycusis or Noise or Both? Hearing thresholds increase with age, especially at high frequencies Hearing loss increases with age, especially at high frequencies Misconception #1: hearing declines iwth age
Closer to the Truth Threshold goes up 1 d. B/year at >60 � Quick Math � (Lee et al) ◦ 20 d. B high frequency loss at age 80 d. t. age ◦ But data show HL in 80 -90 d. B range ◦ 60 to 70 d. B of “age-related” hearing loss d. t. environmental factors Misconception #1: Hearing declines with age
Correcting. Misconception #1 � Hearing Declines Mainly from Environmental Exposures, NOT Age Itself � TAKE HOME: Lose the Ageist Language ◦ “I hear well for my age” is not defensible ◦ Protect your hearing Misconception #1: hearing declines with age
Myths #1& #2 1. 2. All Hearing Losses Are Alike. People with Mild Hearing Losses Don’t Need Hearing Aids.
Myth 1: All Hearing Losses Are Alike Myth 2: Mild Hearing Loss ≠ Hearing Aids � What Makes Us Think That? ◦ The audiogram �a bunch of averages �A bunch of frequencies �Measures audibility �Categorized
What’s an Audiogram? 0 = normal, equalized, averaged Mild or moderate loss? Myths 1 & 2: all hearing losses are alike; you don't need hearing aids for mild losses.
Yes… but what about speech? � Speech depends on perceptual processing � Perception � The is a brain process Ear is Hooked Up To The Brain � QED: Everybody is different, even if they have the same audiogram Myths 1 & 2: All hearing losses are alike; you don't need hearing aids for mild losses.
Closer to the Truth � Audibility is a prerequisite ◦ Necessary, but not Sufficient � Speech recognition in noise ◦ decreases with age, even if audiogram is normal ◦ Is worse for Olds than Youngs with mild hearing loss (Dubno et al, 1984) ◦ Is worse in the evenings for Olds (Veneman et al, 2012) Myths 1 & 2: All hearing losses are alike; you don't need hearing aids for mild losses.
Correcting Myths #1 and #2 � Just because you hear doesn’t mean ◦ You hear what you need to ◦ You understand what you hear � TAKE HOME: Lose the Ageist Language ◦ “I hear well for my age” is not defensible ◦ Exercise your auditory processing as much and often as you can Myths 1 & 2: All hearing losses are alike; you don't need hearing aids for mild losses.
Misconception #2 Don’t Get Hearing Aids Until You REALLY Need Them!
Don’t Get Hearing Aids till You Really Need Them What Makes Us Think This? ◦ Fear of Dependency �It’s actually the other way around – use it or lose it ◦ “Prescription” Device … Take it Like a Pill ◦ Stigma �Makes you look old…so don’t get them till you are! �Disappearing fast thanks to i. Phones & Bluetooth
OK, but when is that exactly? Misconception #2: Don't get hearing aids until you really need them.
Closer to the Truth ◦ Get fitted earlier rather than later �When your spouse complains �Make it easy on your brain and your memory ◦ Don’t lose it and then try to get it back �Fix it before it becomes a problem ◦ Make them part of your routine while it’s easy �When memory slips, it’s hard to learn new routines Misconception #2: Don't get hearing aids until you really need them.
Correcting Misconception #2 ◦ Hearing Aids are For the Young at Heart – those who are not only in the game but winning the game � TAKE HOME: Lose the Ageist Language ◦ Hearing Aids don’t make you look old ◦ Not hearing makes you old Misconception #2: Don't get hearing aids until you really need them.
Myths #3 & 4 � Myth #3: Hearing Aids Don’t Work � Myth #4: Hearing Aids Are All the Same Why do we think this? We don’t. This is deliberate ignorance used for purposes of denial and avoidance. Who thinks this? People who waited too long. People who don’t want help and don’t want to take responsibility. They’re not here today.
Misconception #3 �Hearing in Price Aids Keep Going Up “Every time a new feature comes out, the price goes up. ”
Hearing Aids Keep Going Up in Price � What Makes Us Think That? ◦ Anchor price is $6000 ◦ Nominal value of currency ◦ Heuristics – we believe what others say ◦ Technological advances �Moore’s Law �Koomey’s Law ◦ Equated with pills instead of learning & exercise
Price is Going Down…. � Relative Price Any Way You Slice It ($6 K * CPI increase) Relative Price of Binaural Hearing Aids Purchasing Power Then and Now ◦ Increased 34% � Nominal Price (actual Dollars) 8410 9000 8000 US Dollar Units 7000 6000 ◦ Decreased 25% 6000 4500 5000 4000 Relative Value 3000 Nominal Price 2000 1000 0 1997 Year 2011 � 45% more purchasing power now than you did in 1997 Misconception 3: Hearing aids keep going up in price
Closer to the Truth ◦ Hearing Aids Are Getting Better and Cheaper �Easier to operate �Functional in more diverse environments �Work better for complex signals �Speech in noise ◦ Good Hearing Aids �Are expensive �½ as expensive and twice as effective as 15 years ago �Require training, effort, and regular maintenance Misconception 3: Hearing aids keep going up in price
Closest to the Truth � Audiogram � Age isn’t it! � Hearing Aids aren’t it! � Price isn’t it! Brain + Ear + Age + Exercise = It
TAKE HOME � Stimulate your Ears ◦ to Stimulate your Brain �to Maintain Functionality �to Age Healthily and Happily Thanks for inviting me today
- Slides: 26