Treating Hearing Loss During National Men's Health Week

Men's Health Week is June 13-19, and we at Edison Stanford Hearing Centers of Utah are supporting it with good reason. The goal of Men's Health Week is to help bring attention to preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease and illness in men across the country. In the words of Congressman Bill Richardson: "Recognizing and preventing men's health problems is not just a man's issue. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men's health is truly a family issue." (Congressional Record, H3905-H3906, May 24, 1995).

During this week we wish to bring special attention the untreated hearing loss that affects more than 15 million men in the United States alone.

Untreated hearing loss not only affects relationships with family members, it also affects quality of life and potential earnings. Dr. Sergei Kochkin of the Better Hearing Institute said, "Untreated hearing loss puts dads at a real disadvantage in the home and in the workplace. Unaddressed hearing loss makes it tougher for dads to connect with their children and grandchildren. It heightens frustration and irritation in the home. And it undermines family relationships. What’s more, in these tough economic times, untreated hearing loss can undermine a man’s job security and performance, cut his earnings potential, and pose a barrier to employment opportunities."

A study performed by the Better Hearing Institute (www.betterhearing.org), found that individuals who suffer from untreated hearing loss lose as much as $30,000 of annual income. The study also found that individuals who treated their hearing loss with the use of hearing instruments reduced the risk of loss of income and unemployment by 50%. (Fathers’ Hearing Affects Family Function and Fiscal Health, http://www.betterhearing.org/press/news/pr_061609.cfm)

We urge men and their families to reflect honestly with themselves about the possibility of hearing loss, and checking for hearing loss can be as simple as answering these few questions:

When someone asks me a question, do I frequently have to ask them to repeat it?
Do I ever have to strain to hear a question?
Do I feel that people are mumbling a lot?
If someone is not looking directly at me when they speak, does it make it harder for me to answer?
Do I have trouble hearing over the telephone?
Do people get annoyed because I misunderstand what they say?
If you answered yes to any of the questions, you should consider having your hearing tested by a professional.

As part of participation in National Men's Health Week, our offices are setting aside the entire week of June 13-19 for free hearing exams and screenings. For a free, online hearing test, visit us at http://www.edisonstanfordhearing.com/5-min-online-hearing-test . By participating, we can all enjoy a better quality of life for ourselves and for our families. Let's take these simple steps to protect our hearing health before it becomes a problem.

Edison Stanford Hearing Centers of Utah has been helping individuals in the Salt Lake and Utah Valley area with their hearing needs for over 30 years. Our office offers complimentary comprehensive hearing exams to the public at no charge or obligation. For more information or to schedule an exam, please call 801-485-5595 (SLC) or 801-373-5887(Provo) or visit us at www.EdisonStanfordHearing.com.