PISCATAWAY, N.J.— A majority of senior citizens who suffer from hearing loss choose to ignore treatment with hearing aids and are in denial about the negative effects of these decisions. That is according to new research published today by Sivantos, Inc., manufacturer of Siemens hearing aids and one of the top three hearing aid manufacturers in the world. The company surveyed 321 attendees at the 2015 Life@50+ National Event & Expo held in May 2015. The median age of the respondents was 60-69 years old and roughly two-thirds were female.
According to the survey, more than half of seniors admit to having some degree of hearing loss, yet only one in six choose to wear hearing aids. Seniors with hearing loss are also three times as likely to have elective or cosmetic procedures than they are to seek treatment for their hearing loss. Hearing was also tied for last place with a colonoscopy as the least likely health check.
For a majority of respondents, an unfounded fear that others will perceive them as old, feeble and “kind of dorky” prevents them from seeking treatment with hearing aids. That belief stands in stark contrast to the fact that most seniors report they do not judge others for wearing a hearing aid.
The list of contradictions does not end there. Many respondents are in denial over the social repercussions of not wearing hearing aids. One in four say they do not want to interact with someone who has trouble hearing and continuously asks them to repeat themselves (saying things like “Huh?” “Sorry, say again” and “What did you say?”). However, only 15 percent of respondents believe others react the same way when they are the ones asking others to repeat themselves.
Although Medicare will cover a hearing test during a wellness visit if a physician believes one is necessary to screen or diagnose a patient’s hearing, most survey respondents admitted they do not have their hearing checked annually. In fact, 14 percent have had only one or two hearing tests in their entire lifetime, while 16 percent have never had their hearing tested.
“Using hearing aids to improve even mild hearing loss can make a significant difference for seniors who want to maintain an active and healthy life,” said Scott Davis, CEO, Sivantos, Inc. “Today’s hearing aids are smart, wearable devices that are so tiny they’re barely noticeable. Some are even invisible when worn and deliver an outstanding listening experience in almost every environment.”
For more information, please visit https://usa.bestsoundtechnology.com/seniors.
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The businesses of Siemens’ former hearing aid unit have been combined into the Sivantos Group since the beginning of 2015. The origins of Sivantos go right back to 1878, when Werner von Siemens invented a telephone receiver which made it considerably easier for the hard of hearing to follow conversations. Today, Sivantos Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of hearing instruments. With its 5,000 employees, the Group recorded revenues of € 690 million and a reported EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) of € 126 million in the 2014 business year. Sivantos’ international sales organization supplies products to hearing aid specialists and sales organizations in more than 120 countries. Particular emphasis is placed on product development. The declared goal is to make Sivantos, with its brands Siemens, Audio Service, Rexton, A&M and HearUSA, the market leader in the years to come. The owners of Sivantos are the anchor investors EQT together with the Strüngmann family and Siemens as co-investors. Further information can be found under www.sivantos.com
