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I’d been laughing politely at something a friend said when she turned to me with a hard stare and asked, “Did you really hear what I said, or are you just pretending?”
I’d heard that right enough but realised with a shock that I’d not been registering what came before. Two days later, I was at an audiologist’s, listening intently to the verdict that I was suffering significant hearing loss over a range of high-pitched sounds.
Hearing loss has been linked to an increased risk of dementia in those who don’t wear hearing aids.Credit: iStock
It’s estimated that about 1.5 billion people worldwide have less-than-perfect hearing, a figure the World Health Organisation predicts is set to escalate to nearly 2.5 billion by 2050.
In Australia, the start of a major study into hearing loss led by the Westmead Institute for Medical Research and the University of Sydney has found that 91 per cent of the people screened had some level of deficiency – and 46 per cent of people who swore they had no problem hearing actually did.
“Many people don’t want to admit they have hearing loss, as there is still a high level of stigma attached to it,” says Professor Bamini Gopinath, Inaugural Cochlear Chair in Hearing and Health at Macquarie University Hearing, who’s leading the research.
“Another concerning factor is that more than a third of people with suspected hearing loss had never spoken to a healthcare professional about their hearing – and that included the people who knew they had an issue, as well as those who were unaware.”
Though most of us have regular optometrist and dental checks, few of us have hearing tests and, even when people discover they need a hearing aid, the vast majority (experts estimate six in every seven) never buy or use one. And there are plenty of explanations as to why.
Some people manage to do a better job of faking it than me, others don’t care to hear what others are saying and get used to reading TV subtitles. But for many of us, hearing loss is a clear and unwelcome sign of ageing (though you could argue that constantly asking people to repeat themselves is a much more potent indicator).
The argument for wearing a hearing aid, however, is a strong one. Latest research from the John Hopkins School of Medicine has found those with mild symptoms of hearing loss may be twice as likely to develop dementia. Those with severe loss are five times as likely.
This could be because the brain has to work harder to try to fill in the gaps, which leaves less space for other cognitive functions, suggests John Hopkins Professor Frank Lin. It could also be that those having trouble hearing avoid company, with social isolation accelerating a decline in mental health.
Mary Kalantzis, general manager of Hearing Professionals in Melbourne, says it’s vital for people to be tested, then do something about a poor result.
“A lot of people say they’re not old enough for a hearing aid,” she says. “But if they let hearing loss go on for too long, then by the time they finally get a hearing aid, they may be at a point where the brain can’t cope with it any more. After 10 to 15 years of auditory deprivation, the brain gets used to not hearing.”
Of course, hearing aids these days have come a long way from the old ear trumpet of yore, while the price for wearers is subsidised by the government or private healthcare.
Audiologist Julie Watts, executive officer of Independent Audiologists Australia (with no ties to manufacturers) believes that as people become more used to Bluetooth connectivity and wireless in-ear headphones, many people feel more comfortable having devices in their ears.
“They start looking at them as a tech device instead of a health device,” says Watts. “Many people delay seeking help and struggle to manage, but then find getting a hearing aid can be life-changing. There’s a huge difference between just managing and getting by, and hearing really well and getting that clarity back.”
Yet it can be a tricky transition. A week after being fitted with my aid, I was giving a speech when suddenly my phone started ringing in my ears. I’d turned off the ringer on my phone, but had omitted to switch off the Bluetooth connection. It was so distracting, I eventually had to stop and admit the problem.
Still, being at less threat of dementia makes the expense and hassle all worthwhile. And it is much easier hearing everyone than pretending.
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