1.10MYTHS_GBPAGE1 10 MYTHS ON HEARING LOSS The 10 most common myths surrounding hearing loss exposed

2. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE2 There are a wide variety of perceptions on how our ear works out there Is our hearing like leaking plumbing? 3. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE3 Or like an orchestra that stopped playing? 4. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE4 Or is our ear canal like the entrance of a cave with stalagmites preventing the sound from flowing through it? 5. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE5 This is how we hear 1 2 3 4 6. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE6 The most common reason for hearing loss is damage to the hair cells in the ear Healthy hair cells Damaged hair cells 7. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE7 Some signs pointing towards a hearing loss I can still hear pretty well, but sometimes I cant make out quiet voices I am starting to avoid social situations with a lot of background noise because I find it so tiring. I have difficulty following shows on TV, people complain about the volume I set it at. 8. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE8 Resulting in problems understanding language 9. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE9 Especially sounds in the high frequencies 10. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE10 Resulting in various coping strategies requiring a huge effort Reading lips Filling in the gaps in what we understand Scanning our memories for helpful hints 11. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE11 Behind-The-Ear hearing instruments (BTE) Cochlear implants In-The-Ear hearing instruments (ITE) Lyric extended-wear hearing instruments As of today there is no cure for damaged hair cells. But there are solutions for almost all types of hearing losses 12. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE12 Sources: Hearing Aid Sector Report Vontobel, 2010 However only a small percentage of people affected by hearing loss choose to do something against it 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Mild Moderate Moderately Severe Severe Profound Aided Unaided 13. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE13 So what keeps people from getting a hearing aid? I only have a slight hearing loss. I do not need a hearing aid! MYTH 1 14. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE14 People with a mild loss experience a significant improvement in quality of life with a hearing aid! Source: Eurotrack Improved communication Better social life Better relationships at home Easier to participate in group activities FACT: 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 4 4.1 Communicate more effectively Social life Relationships at home Ability to participate in group activities Sense of independence mild-moderate hearing loss severe-profound hearing loss Perceived impact of hearing aid 15. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE15 I enjoy going to the cinema, concerts or theater more than before. A hearing aid can drastically change the quality of life even for people with mild hearing loss n (HI) = 915. Percent of top3 boxes (a little / significantly / very much so) Source: Hearing is Living study, 2011 68.2% My social life has improved since wearing a hearing aid. My relationship has improved since wearing a hearing aid. My quality of life has improved since wearing a hearing aid 76.6% 63.4% 61.6% 16. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE16 Hearing aids are big and clumsy! MYTH 2 17. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE17 Wrong! Todays hearing aids are available in a wide range of shapes. Some can even be worn invisibly inside the ear. FACT: 18. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE18 And did you know that there is a hearing aid that is 100% invisible and can be worn for up to 4 months at at time? 19. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE19 Hearing aids are really expensive! MYTH 3 20. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE20 Improved relationships Improved productivity at work Self-esteem Happiness Wrong! Good quality hearing aids cost less than a cup of coffee a day FACT: 21. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE21 And you dont even have to pay for it all by yourself GC to insert additional information on reimbursement in their country here 22. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE22 Hearing aids do not work well MYTH 4 23. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE23 Todays hearing aids can help focus on speech in noise FACT: 24. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE24 Insert SR animation here hearing high-pitched sounds FACT: 25. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE25 Insert FlexControl animation or adapt automatically to the current hearing environment... FACT: 26. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE26 Hearing aids are only for old people MYTH 5 27. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE27 Not true! The largest group of people affected by hearing loss are the baby boomers 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80+ Mild 25-39 Moderate 40-69 Severe 70-94 Profound 95+ Hearing loss Age FACT: 1'812'515 245'445 122'722 122'722 3'614'329 522'070 130'517 783'105 9'224'097 2'676'635 267'664 133'832 15'917'576 5'574'582 557'458 111'492 20'432'701 7'369'275 993'610 496'805 16'529'659 16'067'910 1'879'642 60'634 5'976'530 18'806'582 4'287'511 1'169'321 28. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE28 They are in the prime of their lives with plenty of fun-filled years ahead of them 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s Second Careers Volunteering Retraining/Back to School Caregiving Travel Time for leisure and sports Re-Marriage & 2nd Families Empty Nesting Parenting Teens Grand parenting Life stage mosaic 29. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE29 A hearing aid will make me unattractive to my partner MYTH 6 30. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE30 Research shows that just the opposite is the case Source: Hearing is Living study, 2011 I receive more attention from my partner since he has been wearing a hearing aid. I am glad that my partner wears a hearing aid. Our relationship has improved since my partner has been wearing a hearing aid. 81.0% 40.0% 37.9% 31. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE31 Its enough to wear just one hearing aid! MYTH 7 32. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE32 Understanding of speech Understanding in groups & noisy situations Ability to tell the direction of sound Sound quality Listening comfort Source: Kochkin Binaural hearing aids, the fitting of choice for bilateral loss subjects Wrong! Research has shown that hearing well with both ears significantly improves: FACT: 33. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE33 If I wear a hearing aid my ears will become lazy. MYTH 8 34. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE34 The brain is just like a muscle A untreated hearing loss causes a change in the hearing center of the brain (auditory cortex) This makes it harder to understand complex sentences Hearing aids should therefore be fitted early not only to improve hearing but also to preserve the brain. Source: Peele, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Mild hearing loss linked to Brain Atrophy in Older Adults, The Journal of Neurosciences, 2011 Recent research suggests just the opposite! FACT: 35. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE35 There is no link between tinnitus and hearing loss MYTH 9 36. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE36 Wrong! It is estimated that around 90% of people with a tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss FACT: Source: American Tinnitus Association 37. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE37 Taking a hearing test is long and expensive MYTH 10 38. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE38 A full audiometric assessment only takes around 30 minutes FACT: 39. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE39 Why dont you get one right now? Your options: Free hearing screening here and now. Take an online screening on www.hear-the-world.com Come and see us for a free test! 40. 10MYTHS_GBPAGE40 Thanks for your attention! QUESTIONS?