About half of Americans over the age of 60 experience hearing loss, and at age 70, about two thirds of people are affected. Yet, most people don’t seek help by getting a hearing aid.
There are a few barriers to getting them, such as the stigma of working with a disability, the cost of testing, lack of coverage from insurance plans, and the cost of purchasing the actual device.
The high cost of hearing aids
On average, a single pair of hearing aids can cost someone $4,700, according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Nicholas Reed, a professor of epidemiology and audiology at Johns Hopkins University, joined LAist’s daily news program AirTalk.
“If you look across the entire adult population in the United States, around 20% of those who have hearing loss actually own and use a hearing aid,” he said.
He added that there is evidence that suggests hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline. He also said hearing loss can increase social isolation, loneliness, and difficulty in navigating health care settings because of a breakdown in communication.
Marquita Murkison is associate director of audiology practices with the American Speech Language Hearing Association. She also joined AirTalk with some advice on making hearing aids accessible.
How to get hearing aids
Murkison said people should think about their hearing healthcare as part of their regular care.
To help with that, a new FDA regulation began in 2022 and increased the availability of hearing aids. It permitted the sale of some over-the-counter options for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Prices have averaged around $1,000…
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