Hearing Aid Resources
Several years ago, I wrote an article for this newsletter about hearing loss and hearing aids. I stated that two-thirds of Americans who are 70 or older have significant hearing loss that prevents them from fully participating in activities they enjoy. Not only does hearing loss keep older adults from having a full and active life, but significant hearing loss can also increase the risk of cognitive decline and social isolation as well as depression and anxiety. Medicare covers a hearing exam from a licensed audiologist, but most plans do not cover the cost of aids themselves, which can range from $2,000 to a hefty $12,000 for a pair.
The good news I reported in that article was that in 2017 Congress passed a law that would allow for the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, which would greatly reduce the cost to the individual needing the aids. Unfortunately, because they were overwhelmed with the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the Food and Drug Administration has not yet issued regulations ensuring that the over-the-counter aids would be both safe and effective. However, President Biden has given the agency until early November to issue the necessary guidelines. Once these guidelines are issued, several large, reliable companies are ready to market their high-quality, over-the-counter hearing aids to qualified individuals at a substantially lower cost than they would otherwise pay.
Some people may not want to wear hearing aids because they think they will make them look old. Yet may of us wear eyeglasses starting at a young age and don’t give it a second thought. More good news: modern hearing aids are so small they are practically invisible!
All our Senior Center activities will become more accessible and enjoyable when you can easily hear what other members and instructors are saying. Or when you can have a pleasant conversation with the person you’re sitting next to at community dining or in the cafe. Good hearing will enable you to interact with friends, your community, and the wider world in a whole new, greatly improved way.
