The Impact of Treated Hearing Loss on Quality of Life
By Nicole Wasel, Au.D.

People with hearing loss delay a decision to get hearing help because they are unaware of the fact that receiving early treatment for hearing loss has the potential to literally transform their lives. Research by the National Council on the Aging demonstrated that hearing aids clearly are associated with impressive improvements in the social, emotional, psychological, and physical well-being of people with hearing loss.

Hearing aid users experience a dramatically increased quality of life as soon as they start using a hearing aid. They maintain better family relationships, have more self-confidence and experience more independence and security as compared to non-hearing aid wearers with similar levels of hearing loss. The most rewarding aspect of my job is getting to witness this quality of life change in my patients. I often have patients walk into my office feeling frustrated or depressed because they cannot effectively communicate with those around them. Ironically, few people attribute this to their own hearing loss; often blaming others for talking too softly or for the environment being too noisy. Once the patient commits to trying hearing aids, the positive effects are amazing. I hear comments from my patients every day about how their hearing aids have literally changed their lives:

• "This is amazing! I am hearing things that I have not heard in a long time. I do not want to take them out." – Lynda, age 63
• "The hearing aids have literally saved me. I can actually hear my grandkids and now they hold me accountable if they ever catch me not wearing them! I can't imagine life without the hearing aids." – Donna, age 57
• "It's ironic that I avoided this for so long because of vanity. The hearing aids are so small and discreet and now I don't even care if people see them because I can hear!" – Ina, age 71

If you are someone with any degree of hearing loss, who is sitting on the fence, consider all the proven benefits of hearing aids described above and the personal testimonies of real hearing aid users. Hearing aids hold such great potential to positively change your life.

You Should Hear What You Are Missing!

Nicole Wasel, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology, Washington Ear, Nose and Throat, can be reached at (724) 225-8995 or nwasel@washingtonent.net or visit www.washingtonent.net.

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