| If you find yourself -- | ||
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shouting in conversations | |
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turning the TV or radio louder than is comfortable for other people in the room | |
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asking people to repeat what they say | |
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having difficulty hearing in noisy or group settings | |
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straining to hear soft speech | |
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having difficulty hearing on the phone | |
| -- you may have a hearing impairment, and you are not alone. Hearing loss affects one out of every ten people. | ||
| The first step in treating a hearing loss is to realize that one exists. If you or your family member or friend shows one or more of the above symptoms of a hearing loss, please schedule an appointment for a hearing evaluation with an audiologist. | ||
| Hearing loss is more common than you might think. Due to recreational and environmental noise, hearing loss is occurring at younger and younger ages.
Demographics: |
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28 million Americans are hearing impaired, and an estimated 500 million experience hearing loss, worldwide. | |
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In the U.S., one out of 12 30-year-olds is already hearing-impaired and one in 8 50 year olds suffer from hearing loss. | |
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After President Bill Clinton was fitted for hearing aids, more than 1 million other baby boomers identified themselves as experiencing hearing loss. | |
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There are more baby boomers aged 45-64 with a hearing loss (10 million) than there are people over the age of 65 with a hearing loss (9 million) | |
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More than a third of all hearing loss is attributed to noise: loud music, loud work places, loud recreational equipment. | |
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Thanks to the above, we're all losing our hearing at a younger age than we were 30 years ago | |
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Of the 10 million Americans aged 45 to 64 who have a hearing loss, 6 out of 7 do not yet benefit from wearing hearing aids. | |
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Hearing loss is second only to arthritis as the most common complaint of older adults. |
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Only about 10% of hearing losses are helped by surgery or other medical treatment |
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90% of hearing losses can be treated with the use of hearing instruments |
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Only 16% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss |
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Noise above 80-90 decibels on average over an 8-hour workday is considered hazardous |
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Firearms, music, airplanes, lawnmowers, power tools and many appliances are louder than 80 decibels and potentially hazardous to hearing with prolonged exposure |
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A live rock concert produces sounds from 110 to 120 decibels - easily high enough to cause permanent damage to hearing over a 2 to 3 hour period. |