Hearing loss is a frustrating condition. It's estimated that around 20 percent of Americans have some difficulty hearing, with 60 percent of those people still working or attending school. However, many people are resistant to treating their hearing loss, believing it to be a sign of aging or weakness. However, Dr. Arthur Katz, your ear, nose and throat doctor in Merrillville and Munster, IN and Olympia Fields, IL, offers a few reasons why wearing hearing aids can be a life-changing decision.
Many people with hearing impairment often begin to retreat from social situations due to the inability to "keep up" with a conversation. At this point, hearing loss becomes not only frustrating but isolating as well. Constantly asking others to repeat themselves can lead to a breakdown in communication and unnecessary conflict. A recent survey, performed by the National Council on Aging, found that 30 percent of people who did not seek treatment for their hearing loss reported feeling sad and withdrawn for more than two weeks during the time they were dealing with hearing loss. With hearing aids, however, you can feel more comfortable participating in social gatherings and carrying on conversations.
If your hearing prevents you from picking up on warning sounds like smoke detectors or police sirens, you could be putting yourself at a higher risk for an accident. Although these sounds are loud, there are types of hearing loss that muffle, even eliminate high-pitched noises. Choosing to wear hearing aids prescribed by your Merrillville, Olympia Fields and Munster ENT physician could be a life-saving decision.
Currently, only about 14 percent of people with hearing loss are wearing corrective aids, but the vast majority are thrilled with their renewed ability to hear, understand and communicate. You too can experience those feelings by contacting the office of Dr. Katz in Merrillville and Munster, IN and Olympia Fields, IL, to set up a consultation!