8/13/2019 Baby Boomers in Denial

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Siemens Hea ring Instruments, Inc.

Baby Boomers in denial about theirhearing loss new survey shows

DenialWhen asked about their hearing, 72 percent ofolder Americans say their hearing is average orbetter. Not so, say their children, most of whomreport having suggested their parents get theirhearing tested (70 percent have prodded theirfather and 64 percent their mother). Clearly,older Americans are in denial about theirhearing loss. It is something I should havetaken care of years ago and didnt. I t was achoice that was wrong on my part, says Cudo.

Jims wife, Linda, adds His hearing was not

what it should have been for the past 6 or 7years. Of course, you always find an excuse forit. Maybe he wasnt paying attention to me orperhaps he was in a different room. Sometimes

its easier to make an excuse than to really lookat what the real cause is.

Stigma With the negative impact of hearing loss sohigh, why do people avoid the solution? Cost isa major factor, but pride is often mentioned.One third fear that wearing a hearing aid willlook awkward and 29 percent say it will makethem look old.

You look at other people with hearing aids andsay, Im not going to wear that, says Jim. Itwas a man thing. Linda agrees, adding Wereall a little bit vain. We dont want everybody tosee that we have hearing aids.

Older American Hearing StudyApplied Research surveyed 250 Americans aged 50 to 75 years and 250 children of older Americans.

Key findings:

The majority of Boomers believe their hearing is better than average, while their spouse and childrenwish they would have their hearing tested.

The majority of Boomers do not currently use nor are they considering a hearing device.

There is a significant disconnect between Boomers and their children about the consequences oftheir hearing loss.

Stigmas still discourage those with hearing loss from considering hearing devices.

Honey, I cant hear you. Fiveof the hardest words Jim Cudoever had to speak. Deep downhe had known for years abouthis hearing loss, but when hehad to tell his 10 year-oldgranddaughter he couldnthear her words, he knew itwas time to take action.

Jim is not alone. A new study from Applied Research shows older Americans are in denial abouttheir hearing loss and the associated social costs. Applied surveyed 250 older Americans aged 50to 75 as well as 250 adults who had parents in that same age bracket. What they found maysurprise you.

8/13/2019 Baby Boomers in Denial

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Not Your Grandfathers

Hearing AidThe social cost of hearing loss is devastatingfor older Americans. But it need not be thatway. Advances in hearing technology aremaking it easier than ever to address theirloss in a cost-effective, unobtrusive way.

Hearing aid technology has come a long waysince the days of clunky, uncomfortable devices.

Jim Cudo avoided hearing aids for years becausehe thought hearing devices would make himlook weak, or would be uncomfortable to wear.

Now Jim has to remind himself to take themoff before he takes a shower or goes to bed.He only wishes he hadnt waited so long.

Jim wears the Siemens Life 700, a sleekbehind-the-ear device that most of hisfriends fail to notice he is wearing. Todaysbehind-the-ear hearing aids, or BTEs, deliverimpeccable sound quality from small,artistically designed instruments. Siemensfully automated technology means that Jimhardly ever has to adjust his hearing aids

when entering new environmentshishearing aids adjust automatically.

With its small size, ultra-thin tubing andergonomic housing, Siemens Life is easy for

Jim to wear and hard for his fr iends to detectmaking it a great solution for self-consciouswearers. Siemens Life also offers wearers thebenefit of wireless connectivity with electronicdevices. Through the use of an optional Tekwireless enhancement system, wearers canstream sound from MP3 players, televisions,and other audio sources directly to theirhearing instruments.

I Can Hear You Again!When Jim got his hearings aids he startedhearing things that he hadnt heard for years,says Linda. He could hear the wheels on theshopping cart or the birds on our walks. Itmade a huge difference to him.

As for Jim, he was thrilled. I dont care if youhave six grandchildren or just one, they areabsolutely wonderful. And hearing mygranddaughter say papa, you can hear meagain was worth the world to me.

There are different types ofhearing loss that are experiencedto various degrees and due to

several causes. But the symptomof hearing loss are basically thesame. If you think you could hava hearing loss, answering thesequestions is the right placeto start:

Do people comment that yourTV or radio is too loud?

Have you missed visits and calfrom people because you didnhear the doorbell or telephoneringing?

Do you have trouble followingconversations in crowded ornoisy settings?

Do people seem to mumble andnot speak clearly?

Do people tell you that youspeak too loudly?

Do you frequently ask peopleto repeat themselves?

Do your friends and familysuggest that you have ahearing problem?

Do you have a difficult timeunderstanding the words ofpopular songs when listeningto the radio?

If you answered yes to anyof these questions, there isa chance that you may havesome degree of hearing loss.We urge you to have a hearingtest conducted by a hearinghealth care professional.

Addressing YourOwn Hearing Loss

Helping a Loved One with Hearing LossHearing loss affects a great number of people around the world. And it affects them in a variety of ways. Over time, hearing loss canlead to anxiety, depression and loneliness. Leaving hearing loss untreated can turn a physical condition into a psychological one. Thisis why it is so important to seek a solution promptly.

If you know a friend or loved one who has trouble participating in group conversations, seems to be speaking loudly without reason,or understanding simple conversation, it is important to share your concerns with them and urge them to see a hearing professional.

There are a number of concerns and insecurities that accompany hearing loss, so being supportive and encouraging is the best way tocare for someone with hearing loss. Helping them understand the reality of their hearing loss and the effect it is having on theirpersonal relationships is the first step toward helping them find a solution.

For information on hearing loss and hearing loss solutions, please visit www.usa.siemens.com/hearing