For those who experience hearing loss, the consequences are many and varied – and, of course, almost always detrimental. Even seemingly minor changes to cope with hearing loss can have knock-on effects. For instance, turning up the volume on the television or radio might help someone with partial hearing loss. But this might make it uncomfortably loud for those with them.
Another relatively obvious one is difficulty in hearing those you’re conversing with in a noisy restaurant. It’s an instance such as this that can have consequences those with full hearing may not realise.
One major debilitating consequence is social isolation, and it is far more widespread than most of us might think.
New research had revealed 43 per cent of Australians aged 50+ with hearing loss reported losing confidence in social interactions. Of those who’ve lost that confidence 24 per cent also feel isolated from friends and family due to their condition.
This is a concerning trend, but one which need not be so, according to one national hearing loss healthcare provider. Sam Thomas, an audiologist at Connect Hearing, says he’s seen many patients who say treatment for hearing loss has “allowed them to get their life back”.
The social effects of hearing loss
The extent of social isolation being experienced was identified in research commissioned by Connect Hearing and completed by YouGov. The research involved surveying 1039 Australians aged 50 years or older.
In addition to the revelations above, the survey also showed 27 per cent of respondents with hearing loss said they avoid social events and occasions.
More than a third of respondents (35 per cent) said hearing loss affected their health and wellbeing. On top of that 26 per cent claimed hearing loss was putting a strain on their relationships.
But Sam Thomas said this need not be the case. Mr Thomas has seen first-hand the debilitating effects of hearing loss. “At Connect Hearing, I see people struggling with daily conversations and experiencing overstimulation from background noise,” he said. “In my opinion [this] can lead to exhaustion.”
The new research shows the knock-on effects that can occur as a result, Mr Thomas said. “Evidently, this exhaustion, combined with reduced participation in social activities, shows that the impacts of untreated hearing loss can be far-reaching.”
Treatment options
What some with hearing loss may not understand, said Mr Thomas, is the number of treatment options now available.
“Technology now exists to help people make the most of life without being held back in social situations,” he said. For many, he said, this will reduce or eliminate the need foe “having to play musical chairs to hear people when having conversations or feeling self-conscious about wearing hearing aids.”
Such technology includes the Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio. This is the world’s first hearing aid with a dedicated AI chip for sound processing called ‘DEEPSONIC’, Connect Hearing claims. The hearing aid helps people understand speech from any direction, alleviating one of the major sources of frustration.
The device also incorporates what Connect says is a first-of-its-kind in the Australian market: a system called Spheric Speech Clarity. This mimics the human brain by filtering out unwanted background noise which can interfere with people engaging in social activities. This includes phone conversations, small group chats and outings in noisy venues.
The bottom line is, for those suffering hearing loss, recent advances mean the frustrations of the past can be overcome.
“If you or someone you know is struggling with hearing loss, you don’t need to suffer through it,” said Mr Thomas. “A simple hearing check can often help people stop living with social discomfort and achieve a better quality of life.”
Have you struggled with hearing loss? Has it affected your social life? Let us know via the comments section below.
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Health disclaimer: This article contains general information about health issues and is not advice. For health advice, consult your medical practitioner.
