If you think hearing loss is something only the elderly deal with, think again. Americans are finding themselves caught in a cycle of misunderstanding, with the average person asking, “What did you say?” a staggering 1,095 times per year.
This insight comes from a recent survey conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Audien Hearing, shedding light on the social and personal impacts of hearing difficulties in everyday life. The survey, which polled 2,000 Americans, uncovered that respondents need to ask for people to repeat themselves an average of three times daily, accumulating to about 91 times per month. Despite this frequency, people typically only ask twice before giving up and pretending to have heard something, highlighting a concerning trend of communication breakdown.
The consequences of these auditory challenges extend beyond mere inconvenience. A significant 35% of respondents reported feeling left out of conversations due to hearing issues. While some mishearing incidents lead to humorous situations, others can result in awkward, embarrassing, or even physically dangerous outcomes.
“Down in Texas, my girlfriend was trying to tell me there was a loose horse and I didn’t hear, and a horse ran right by me and knocked me down,” one respondent recalls.
The impact on social interactions is particularly notable, with almost a fifth (17%) of Americans admitting to avoiding social situations because of hearing difficulties. This trend is more pronounced among younger generations, with 23% of Gen Z admitting to such avoidance issues compared to only 11% of baby boomers.
“Whether you have hearing loss or not, nobody likes to ask someone to repeat themselves. But even for those who do have hearing loss, not everyone is ready to pull the trigger on hearing aids, so it’s very common for people to tune out of conversations when they can’t hear. That’s why we should recognize this and take corrective action when needed,” says Ishan Patel, CEO at Audien Hearing, in a statement.
The survey reveals a concerning gap in hearing health awareness and treatment. While 16% of respondents have been medically diagnosed with a hearing issue, another 21% worry they might have an undiagnosed problem. Moreover, 40% believe their hearing has deteriorated over the past five years, attributing this decline primarily to age (62%) and exposure to loud noises in everyday life (32%).
Personal habits also play a role in perceived hearing loss, with respondents citing loud music in cars (32%), high-volume audio through headphones (27%), and attending loud concerts (22%) as contributing factors. Despite these concerns, only half (49%) of the respondents feel informed about solutions for hearing issues.
The survey also uncovered barriers to seeking care for hearing-related problems. The monetary cost of solutions (33%), lack of knowledge about hearing loss (18%), and feelings of embarrassment (15%) were identified as primary obstacles. Perhaps most alarmingly, of the 93% who do not currently use hearing aids, 32% said they wouldn’t consider them even if recommended by a medical professional.
“We always recommend seeking a medical opinion if you have hearing loss, but it’s important to know that your options have improved significantly in recent years,” Patel says. “Hearing aids used to cost nearly $5,000 per pair, required a prescription, and were bulky and unattractive.”
“Now, due to technological advancements and new FDA guidelines, there are options for hearing aids over the counter for a fraction of the price, and many are much smaller and more discreet.”
Source: https://studyfinds.org/americans-losing-their-hearing/?nab=0