Hearing loss in old age: Experts warn of social isolation and dementia!

Hearing loss in old age: Experts warn of social isolation and dementia!

In Carinthia, every fifth person suffers from hearing loss, but many displace this restriction and hesitate to see a specialist. Under the motto "Understand more, experience more", experts advise early preventive examinations, since untreated hearing problems can lead to social withdrawal and an increased risk of dementia, as the primary department of the ENT department at the Klagenfurt Clinic, Thomas Weinhandl, emphasizes. Often up to seven years of diagnosis to the use of a hearing aid, which can further affect hearing processing in the brain, says Weinhandl. The need for timely care is therefore urgent to improve the quality of life of those affected, not only to avoid social isolation.

hearing aids between stigma and technology

The modern hearing aids now offer a wide range of functions that significantly improve the comfort and become almost invisible. This was also confirmed by hearing acousticians Bernhard Metzger, who emphasized that new technologies can automatically recognize language and suppress noise. This questions the long existing stigma, which combines hearing aids with aging. Rather, hearing systems, similar to glasses or contact lenses, should be regarded as indispensable everyday helpers. This is underpinned by the Eurotrak study of 2022, which shows that only 41 percent of people with hearing loss in Germany wear hearing aids much less than the actual number of those who need support.

The stigma for people -wearing people is particularly evident in younger generations, who often do without use for fear of reviews, although hearing aids could significantly increase their quality of life. According to an article on meinhoergeraet.de the openness in dealing with hearing loss and the use of hearing aids is necessary to promote a positive attitude. Prejudices can be broken down in particular through personal advice in the selection of hearing systems and the correct solution can be found.

The next open day takes place on March 6th in Klagenfurter Platzgasse, where those affected can get more and neutrally advised to learn more about hearing and possible aids. It is time to get the topic of hearing loss and the technologies behind the taboo corner and to have an open discussion.