More than 22 million people in the EU live with untreated hearing loss, increasing their risk of social isolation, depression, cognitive decline and dementia. Oticon supports World Hearing Day 2019 in encouraging us all to recognize the signs of and address hearing loss.
Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent conditions that affects the world’s population, with over 5% having been diagnosed. Hearing loss tends to be a slow process which can be easily missed or ignored, consequently there are many more people living with unidentified hearing loss. Have you ever had your hearing tested? World leading hearing aid manufacturer, Oticon, offers a free online hearing test that you can try out here.
This March, the annual hearing awareness day by the World Health Organisation (WHO), aims to draw attention to the early identification and intervention for hearing loss. World Hearing Day 2019, with the backing of companies such as Oticon, will encourage us all to practice safe listening and to check our hearing to take the first important steps towards addressing hearing loss.
Untreated hearing loss costs 180 billion Euros in Europe each year. A new scientific report documents that around two third of people with a hearing loss do not use hearing aids, resulting in lower quality of life and higher unemployment, and consequently a high cost to society.
“People don’t hesitate to have an eye test but when it comes to their hearing, people are often reluctant to get tested,” says Thomas Behrens, Chief Audiologist, Oticon. “Many common side effects of untreated hearing loss are hard to pin to a specific cause which is why they are easily missed as a sign of hearing difficulties, and therefore do not spur people to check their hearing. However, recent studies have tied social isolation, depression and cognitive decline, including the early onset of dementia, to the effects of social withdrawal as a result of untreated hearing loss. Getting our hearing checked every now and then could decrease the risk of potential effects on health and wellbeing that could arise from not addressing a hearing loss.”
5 signs that you could have a hearing loss
Here are a few telltale signs that Oticon has put together to help you recognize whether your hearing ability may be deteriorating:
- Do you often have to turn up the volume on your TV, radio or phone / do others comment that you have these devices too loud?
- Do friends, family members and colleagues complain that they have to repeat what they say to you?
- Do you struggle to focus on people speaking at work, school or social events? Maybe you find conversations in restaurants or crowded places difficult?
- Do you have to look at people’s face or lips in order to be able to understand what they are saying?
- Have you noticed that everyday sounds, such as birds tweeting, footsteps, crickets or the clock tick are gone or less noticeable?
If your answer to any of the above is yes, test your own hearing for free, now. You can also visit a local hearing care professional, many of which offer free hearing tests. Early detection could help prevent further conditions.
Life changing hearing aid with groundbreaking audiology technology
If you find yourself diagnosed with a hearing loss, then you have a fantastic choice of hearing aids available to you. The recently launched Oticon Opn™ S is a good example of a life changing hearing aid, offering users; groundbreaking audiology technologies to help support the brain in noisy environments and connectivity to the internet and every day devices such as smartphones. Plus, it comes in a variety of styles to suit varying preferences, including a highly discreet invisible style.
For more information on Oticon visit: www.oticon.global.
About Oticon
500 million people worldwide suffer from hearing loss. The majority are over the age of 50 while eight percent are under the age of 18. It is Oticon's ambition that our customers - hearing clinics throughout the world - prefer to use our products for people with impaired hearing. Through passion, dedication and professional expertise, Oticon develops and manufactures hearing aids for both adults and children. Oticon supports every kind of hearing loss from mild to severe and we pride ourselves on developing some of the most innovative hearing aids in the market. Headquartered out of Denmark, we are a global company and part of William Demant Group with more than 13,000 employees and revenues of over DKK 13 billion. www.oticon.global
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