Survey: Misperception around hearing aids

2010-02-08, Stäfa, Switzerland

 

According to a survey conducted by Hear the World despite significant advances in hearing technology, hearing aids were associated with old age more than any other accessories surveyed, including glasses, a wheelchair, crutches and canes for the blind. This misperception has serious consequences for the 800 million people worldwide living with hearing loss.

ccording to the survey, which polled 4,405 people between the ages of 14-65 years old in the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Italy, not wanting to admit to having hearing loss in public was among the top three reasons for not wearing a hearing aid. While 93 percent (USA: 88 percent; UK: 87 percent ; GER: 94 percent ; F:98 percent ; I: 96 percent and CH: 96 percent) responded that they would wear a hearing aid if it was necessary, previous research has indicated that many people with hearing loss do not in fact wear a hearing aid. In the United States and United Kingdom alone, only one in four people requiring a hearing device actually wear one.

“Hearing loss and the solutions available to treat it have long been misunderstood, and the survey findings point to exactly that,” said Dr. Craig Kasper, chief audiology officer of Audio Help Associates of Manhattan. “Hearing aids have come a long way and it is important to the well being of those with hearing loss that these misperceptions be addressed. In fact, recent technology advances have made it possible for those who need a hearing aid to wear their devices with ease and confidence.”

In fact, the survey also found that frustration (46.8 percent) isolation (45.3 percent) and fear (36.8 percent) were the feelings most often associated with untreated hearing loss.

“What I see in my practice is that the unnecessary fear and frustration associated with hearing loss and hearing aids is often accompanied by a lack of information about ways to prevent and/or solutions available to treat the condition,” said Dr. Kasper. “This is unfortunate given that hearing loss is a condition that can be treated with great benefit for the individual, as well as for society.”