Aging Well: Why managing hearing loss matters

OMG. I can’t hear anything that woman is saying! 

I was at a play and couldn’t hear a single word that one of the three performers was saying. She should speak up! How very annoying. 

After that frustrating theater experience, I began noticing a few more people whom I couldn’t hear and who should be speaking louder. Some months later, I realized I was the one with a problem and decided to have my hearing checked out. 

The audiologist said I had mild to moderate hearing loss and I would be wise to consider hearing aids. I reluctantly decided to try some out.

After the trial period, I still wasn’t convinced about keeping them until I did some research. According to a 2024 National Council on Aging (NCOA) Advisory, in the U.S., “hearing loss among older adults is common, affecting one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74, and nearly half of those older than 75.”

Adjacent health risks

While many of us understand that the likelihood of hearing loss increases as we age, what we don’t realize is that it brings increased health risks.

According to the NCOA Advisory, even mild hearing loss can double the risk of dementia, while moderate and severe hearing loss can triple and quintuple the risk, respectively. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have found that “for every additional 10 decibels of hearing loss” you experience, the likelihood of falling increases by 140%. 

Moreover, as hearing loss worsens, individuals are more likely to experience mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Many people also face decreases in confidence and self-esteem when they struggle to hear and actively participate in conversations.

However, the vast majority of those individuals over 70 with hearing loss do not use hearing aids. There are significant barriers hindering people from getting the care they need. First, there is the stigma that using hearing aids announces to the world that you are old.

More important, the high cost makes them inaccessible to many living on a fixed budget. Basic hearing aids can cost $1,500. Of note, Apple AirPods Pro 2 and 3 can be used as hearing aids, and if that works for you, they will cost you far less.

Another consideration is whether a given Medicare Advantage plan covers the costs of hearing tests and a set of hearing aids — and to what degree.

Given how much hearing affects our health and well-being, and how much the technology has improved, I decided to interview several people to learn more about their day-to-day experiences.

Personal stories

I’ll start with Carolyn, who is in her mid-80s  and has had hearing aids for some time now. She told me her hearing loss is mild to moderate. 

“The aids have helped a lot,” she said. “However, it often takes me a lot of effort to follow a conversation, so sometimes I stop trying.” 

She added that her husband of 50-plus years has moderate hearing loss and doesn’t hear a lot of what she says. This can leave Carolyn feeling invisible.

Then we have Harry, 79, a widower who became profoundly deaf in his late 60s, affecting his whole life. 

“I don’t go into groups or attend social gatherings,” he told me. “It is only in quiet, one-on-one situations that I can hear anything. I also have a delay in actually understanding words.” Harry has gotten help from CaptionCall, a phone system that creates live text from what his callers are saying, enabling him to enjoy phone conversations. 

I’ve learned that difficulty processing words is quite common, and the public has little understanding of this issue. Like many others, I first noticed this when I was watching TV. Closed captions are very helpful.

As I discovered more about hearing loss and hearing aids, I gradually accepted that it would be wise for me to keep using mine. However, I checked in with my audiologist, who made several helpful adjustments.

Dear readers, there is so much you can do to manage hearing loss. Follow these tips to improve your communication with those you care about and the quality of your relationships.

For those with hearing loss 

• Get your hearing tested if you have any symptoms of loss — almost everyone waits too long before getting checked out.
• Remember that hearing aids protect your health, safety, and well-being even though your loss may be only mild to moderate.
• If your hearing aids don’t seem to make much difference, get retested to determine whether adjustments are needed. It is worth it.
• Make socializing with family and friends a priority.
• Arrange to meet friends and family one on one at a quiet place where you can sit near each other and look at each other.

For family and friends 

• If a family member is resisting getting hearing aids or says they don’t work for them, positively encourage them to try again.
• When trying to talk to a person with hearing loss, first get their attention. Never call them from another room.
• Never shout. When you are not being understood, don’t keep raising your voice. Don’t repeat your exact words over and over. Say it in a different way.
• Speak slowly, looking directly at their face.
• One-on-one conversations are a wonderful way to deepen relationships.

Hearing loss is a natural part of aging — and nothing to feel ashamed of or embarrassed by. Facing your hearing loss head-on is the best way to manage it.