Men who are members of the Baby Boomer generation — approximately half of the 76 million Americans born between World War II and the early 1960s — are more likely than their female counterparts to experience hearing loss, according to a compelling survey recently released by The EAR Foundation and Clarity.
More than half, or 55 percent, of the men contacted for the Baby Boomer Hearing Loss Survey reported some degree of hearing loss; whereas only 44 percent of Boomer women indicated they were experiencing problems hearing.
The survey results, which were released in October, indicated that hearing loss is more widespread among both men and women between the ages of 40 and 59 than previously estimated. Results suggest that nearly half of all Baby Boomers nationwide are having difficulty hearing. Earlier estimates from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey by the National Center for Health Statistics indicated 16 million people (20%) in a comparable age group (i.e., between ages 46 – 64) were suffering from hearing loss.
The survey further revealed that among those who reported hearing loss, very few are doing anything about it. Only one out of every three individuals, or 34%, who said they experienced hearing loss had gotten their hearing tested. Hearing experts, like founder of The EAR Foundation Dr. Michael Glasscock, confirm that, while hearing loss seems to be occurring at a more rapid pace among Boomers than among previous generations, they are not actively looking for solutions.
According to Glasscock, the first step is to recognize the problem, and take steps to get your hearing tested or to help loved ones — a father, grandfather, uncle or friend — do the same this Father’s Day.
« One of the reasons Boomer men may be more prone to hearing loss than women is Noise Induced Hearing Loss, » said Glasscock, whose non-profit foundation is dedicated to educating the general public on hearing loss prevention. « Men may be more likely than women to inadvertently or deliberately expose themselves to harmful noise levels, such as might derive from mowing the lawn, taking a flight or attending a rock concert. »
The EAR Foundation and Clarity’s Baby Boomer Hearing Loss survey found that more than half (51%) of the individuals who reported trouble hearing attributed their hearing loss to noise pollution, either on the job or during recreational activities.
A normal conversation measures approximately 60 decibels, or dB. The average rock concert is a resounding 115 to 120 dB. According to The EAR Foundation, exposure without protection to sounds louder than 85 dB for more than 15 minutes can cause permanent, irreversible hearing loss.
The EAR Foundation and Clarity have provided the following tips for Father’s Day to alert family members if someone they love is experiencing hearing loss:
– He can hear voices when others are talking but cannot distinguish the words.
– He often asks people to repeat what they said or to speak up.
– He plays the TV or radio too loudly.
– He frequently complains that people mumble.
– He cannot hear the doorbell or telephone.
– He says that looking at people as they talk makes them easier to understand
Individuals who may be experiencing hearing loss can meet with an audiologist or discuss hearing with their primary care physician. If a problem is detected, The EAR Foundation recommends everyone involved become familiar with possible treatments and solutions, which range from hearing aids to amplified telephones to assistive listening devices. Amplified telephones and assistive listening devices amplify the incoming high-frequency sounds that are typically missed by individuals with hearing loss.
« Baby Boomers need to take advantage of both audiology testing and the wealth of products for better hearing, » said Carsten Trads, president of Clarity. « There is no need for either Boomers or their loved ones to literally suffer in silence. We urge anyone who thinks they may be experiencing hearing loss to contact an audiologist, and seek information about hearing aids and the many other convenient and economical devices, such as amplified telephones and assistive listening technology, on the market today. »
Solutions, such as Clarity’s amplified telephones, can be found in RadioShack and Wal-Mart stores across the country or online at www.clarityproducts.com ; or they may be purchased through state hearing programs and special needs distributors. For more information on hearing loss, visit www.earfoundation.org .
Source: Clarity
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