Hearing Center: Why Are Fewer People Using Aids?

Feb 13
10:22

2012

Andrea Avery

Andrea Avery

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The decline of people using hearing aids might be taken as a good thing for those who pay cursory attention to national trends. More than one hearing center around the country is wondering why that is.

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The decline of people using hearing aids might be taken as a good thing for those who pay only cursory attention to national trends. Researchers wonder,Hearing Center: Why Are Fewer People Using Aids? Articles however, if it really is. The truth is that auditory loss has not decreased in recent years, and in fact has only increased in the modern age. However, while you might think this would lead to a correlation in higher hearing aid use, the studies show that quite the opposite phenomenon is happening. Fewer individuals are making use of these aids, and more than one hearing center around the country is wondering why that is. According to a study conducted through Johns Hopkins University, although a significant percentage of the population over the age of 70 is experiencing some degree of auditory loss, the use of aids for this loss has actually decreased. The reasons behind this disparity are still somewhat of a mystery to researchers, especially considering how far the technology has come from its earliest inceptions. Those with deficiencies in their abilities to hear can visit a hearing center in their area and be exposed to a number of options, but fewer people are actually taking advantage of these possibilities. One possible reason could be the refusal of many insurance companies to cover the expense. While most aids are far from expensive, they are still a pricey item to anyone on a budget, as many seniors are. These seniors, used to depending on Blue Cross to pay for their medical supplies, are taken aback when they learn that aids are not covered in many cases. Why this hasn't become a priority for insurance companies to pay for is perhaps even a bigger mystery. Few people would argue that the ability to hear would fall under a cosmetic or elective situation, leaving both doctors and patients frustrated with the system. Of course, some people eschew the use of a hearing aid for different reasons than their ability to pay for them. Any hearing center will tell you that there is an adjustment period involved in wearing one. Much like dentures, it takes some getting used to. Not only does its physical presence present an issue for many patients, but the amplified noise can actually be a distraction. People have an amazing ability to adapt, and by the time many people are diagnosed with auditory loss, they have already become quite accustomed to dealing with a much quieter world. Doctors encourage their patients to take their time and get used to the amplification, but this is more of a commitment than some are willing to make.