The first step in treating a hearing loss is to realize that one exists. If you or your friend or relative shows one or more of the following symptoms, see our audiologist:

• Trouble understanding speech from far away, such as in church, at concert halls or in theatres.
• Difficulty hearing when in a group of people or in the presence of background noise, such as in restaurants.
• Avoiding social gatherings and other public situations where they might feel embarrassed about misunderstanding others.
• Asking people to repeat themselves because they have trouble understanding what is being said.
• Difficulty hearing a phone ring or trouble hearing on the phone.
• Turning their head or cupping their ear to focus on a certain sound or talker.
• Watching television or listening to the radio at a much louder volume than you or others normally do.

Hearing loss is more common than you might think. Due to recreational and environmental noise, hearing loss is occurring at younger and younger ages. Consider the following:

• 28 million Americans are hearing impaired, and an estimated 500 million experience hearing loss worldwide.
• 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.
• 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).
• More than a third of all hearing loss is attributed to noise: loud music, loud workplaces, loud recreational equipment.
• Hearing loss at a younger age is more common than it was 30 years ago.
• 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.

Here are some more interesting facts about hearing loss:

• Hearing loss is second only to arthritis as the most common complaint of older adults.
• Only about 10% of hearing losses are helped by surgery or other medical treatment.
• 90% of hearing losses can be treated with the use of hearing aids.
• Only 16% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss.