Hearing loss isn't just an older person's concern. Alarming signs of serious health issues are emerging in younger adults, with 20% of people in their 20s already experiencing early symptoms.
Why it matters
Untreated hearing loss isn't resolved by just turning up the TV. It doubles your risk of dementia. Johns Hopkins research found that severe hearing loss makes you five times more likely to develop cognitive decline. Your brain works overtime to process muffled sounds, starving it of energy needed for memory and focus.
By the numbers
- 38 million U.S. adults already have hearing loss.
- 1 billion young people worldwide risk permanent damage from loud concerts, clubs, or earbuds (WHO).
- Men aged 20-69 are twice as likely as women to struggle with hearing—thanks to jobs, hobbies, and yes, Kendrick Lamar concerts.
- 60% of seniors avoid hearing aids because they fear looking “old.”
The challenge
Why do most people wait 10 years to address their hearing loss?
- Stigma and outdated advice.
- Doctors often dismiss early signs as “normal aging.”
- Take Ibrahim Dabo, 41, who hid his hearing aids for years: “I felt defective. I stopped going to movies, even writing.”
What to know
Prescription aids offer discrete designs, BlueTooth compatibility, rechargeable batteries, and noise-canceling when life gets noisy. For athletes, waterproof designs are available.
- Hearing aids slash cognitive decline by 48% in three years.
- Your audiologist will tune your hearing aids to correct your unique pattern of hearing loss.
The takeaway
Hearing loss is silent but urgent. Modern fixes are discreet, high-tech, and brain-saving. Don’t wait until you find yourself lost in conversations or missing natural sounds.
- Get your hearing screened annually.
- Learn about hearing aids from an audiologist—and try them.
- Eliminate the stigma to enjoy physical, social, and cognitive health in the future.
Healthy hearing starts here
Healthy hearing starts with a free 15-minute hearing screening by an audiologist.
★ Call 708-599-9500 to schedule your free screening.
★ For facts about hearing loss and hearing aid options, download The Hearing Loss Guide.
★ Sign up for our newsletter for the latest on Hearing aids, dementia triggered by hearing loss, pediatric speech and hearing, speech-language therapies, Parkinson's Voice therapies, and occupational-hearing conservation. We publish our newsletter eight times a year.
Don't let untreated hearing loss spoil your quality of life.
Crest Hill, IL - 630-633-5060 | Palos Hills, IL - 708-599-9500
