Holly Hosford-Dunn PhD Academy Village, January 23 2013

Myths

Misconceptions

#1: Hearing Losses are All Alike #2: Dont Need Hearing Aids for Mild Hearing Losses #3 & #4: Hearing Aids Dont Work & Theyre all the Same

#1: Hearing Declines with Age #2: Dont Get Hearing Aids Til You Really Need Them #3: Hearing Aids Keep Going Up in Price

HearingHealthMatters.org tucsonaudiology.wordpress.com

Hearing Declines with Age

What Makes Us Think This?

Observational Data
~30 million hearing impaired individuals in US 70% 55 years

Professional Terminology
Presbycusis: Hearing Loss 65 years #1 most prevalent chronic condition in males #4 most prevalent condition in females

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

nature and extent difficult to estimate
2006 Rosenhall et al

Noise
totally intertwined Occupational Recreational Military
Misconception #1: Hearing declines with age

Hearing thresholds increase with age, especially at high frequencies

Hearing loss increases with age, especially at high frequencies

Misconception #1: hearing declines iwth age

Threshold goes up 1 dB/year at >60 Quick Math

(Lee et al)

20 dB high frequency loss at age 80 d.t. age But data show HL in 80-90 dB range 60 to 70 dB of age-related hearing loss d.t. environmental factors

Misconception #1: Hearing declines with age

Hearing Declines Mainly from Environmental Exposures, NOT Age Itself TAKE HOME: Lose the Ageist Language
I hear well for my age is not defensible Protect your hearing

Misconception #1: hearing declines with age

1.
2.

All Hearing Losses Are Alike.

People with Mild Hearing Losses Dont Need Hearing Aids.

What Makes Us Think That?

The audiogram
a bunch of averages A bunch of frequencies Measures audibility Categorized

0 = normal, equalized, averaged

Mild or moderate loss?

Myths 1 & 2: all hearing losses are alike; you don't need hearing aids for mild losses.

Speech depends on perceptual processing Perception is a brain process

The Ear is Hooked Up To The Brain

QED: Everybody is different, even if they have the same audiogram

Myths 1 & 2: All hearing losses are alike; you don't need hearing aids for mild losses.

Audibility is a prerequisite
Necessary, but not Sufficient

Speech recognition in noise

decreases with age, even if audiogram is normal
Is worse for Olds than Youngs with mild hearing loss (Dubno et al, 1984) Is worse in the evenings for Olds
(Veneman et al, 2012)

Myths 1 & 2: All hearing losses are alike; you don't need hearing aids for mild losses.

Just because you hear doesnt mean

You hear what you need to You understand what you hear

TAKE HOME: Lose the Ageist Language

I hear well for my age is not defensible Exercise your auditory processing as much and often as you can

Myths 1 & 2: All hearing losses are alike; you don't need hearing aids for mild losses.

Dont Get Hearing Aids Until You REALLY Need Them!

What Makes Us Think This?

Fear of Dependency
Its actually the other way around use it or lose it

Prescription Device Take it Like a Pill Stigma

Makes you look oldso dont get them till you are! Disappearing fast thanks to iPhones & Bluetooth

Misconception #2: Don't get hearing aids until you really need them.

 Get fitted earlier rather than later

When your spouse complains Make it easy on your brain and your memory

Dont lose it and then try to get it back

Fix it before it becomes a problem

Make them part of your routine while its easy

When memory slips, its hard to learn new routines

Misconception #2: Don't get hearing aids until you really need them.

 Hearing Aids are For the Young at Heart those who are not only in the game but winning the game

TAKE HOME: Lose the Ageist Language

Hearing Aids dont make you look old Not hearing makes you old

Misconception #2: Don't get hearing aids until you really need them.

Myth #3: Hearing Aids Dont Work Myth #4: Hearing Aids Are All the Same

Why do we think this?

We dont. This is deliberate ignorance used for purposes of denial and avoidance.

Who thinks this?

People who waited too long. People who dont want help and dont want to take responsibility. Theyre not here today.

 Hearing

Aids Keep Going Up in Price

Every time a new feature comes out, the price goes up.

What Makes Us Think That?

Anchor price is $6000
Nominal value of currency Heuristics we believe what others say Technological advances
Moores Law Koomeys Law

Equated with pills instead of learning & exercise

Relative Price of Binaural

Hearing Aids Purchasing Power Then and Now
9000 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 1997 2011 4500 Relative Value Nominal Price 8410

Relative Price ($6K * CPI increase)

Increased 34%

Nominal Price (actual Dollars)

Decreased 25%

US Dollar Units

6000

45% more purchasing power now than you did in 1997

Year

Misconception 3: Hearing aids keep going up in price

 Hearing Aids Are Getting Better and Cheaper

Easier to operate Functional in more diverse environments Work better for complex signals
Speech Speech in noise

Good Hearing Aids

Are expensive as expensive and twice as effective as 15 years ago Require training, effort, and regular maintenance

Misconception 3: Hearing aids keep going up in price

Audiogram isnt it! Age isnt it! Hearing Aids arent it! Price isnt it!

Brain + Ear + Age + Exercise = It

Stimulate your Ears to Stimulate your Brain to Maintain Functionality to Age Healthily and Happily

Thanks for inviting me today