Skip to content
The American Academy of Audiology
  • Practice Resources
    • Practice Guidelines and Standards
    • Reimbursement
    • Coding
    • Compliance
    • Public Awareness
    • State Medicaid
    • Medicare FAQs
    • COVID-19 Resources
  • Education and Events
    • Event Calendar
    • AAA Annual Conference
    • Academy Research Conference (ARC)
    • Continuing Education
    • eAudiology Online Learning
    • Research Grants and Scholarships
  • News and Publications
    • Audiology Today
    • Newsroom
    • Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
    • Advertising
    • Audiology Solutions Network
    • Online Store
  • Careers
    • Career Center
    • Certification
    • Become an Audiologist
    • Doctoral Programs in Audiology
    • Recruiting
    • Resources for New Audiologists
  • Advocacy
    • Legislative and Regulatory Activities
      • State Affairs
      • Federal Affairs
    • Legislative Action Center
    • Government Relations News
  • About the Academy
    • Contact Us
    • Academy Membership
      • Benefits
      • Ethics
      • Member Directory
      • Membership Renewals
    • Leadership
    • Committees and Task Forces
    • Get Involved
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Honors and Awards
    • Sponsorships and Corporate Partners
    • Press and Media Information
  • Audiology Community
  • Consumers
    • What Is an Audiologist
    • Hearing and Balance Symptoms and Conditions
    • Managing Hearing Loss
    • Seniors and Hearing Loss
    • Children and Hearing Loss
FacebookTwitterLinkedinYoutubeInstagram
  • Audiology Community
  • Students
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • Renew
The American Academy of Audiology
Member Login
  • Practice Resources
    • Practice Guidelines and Standards
    • Reimbursement
    • Coding
    • Compliance
    • Public Awareness
    • State Medicaid
    • Medicare FAQs
    • COVID-19 Resources
  • Education and Events
    • Event Calendar
    • AAA Annual Conference
    • Academy Research Conference (ARC)
    • Continuing Education
    • eAudiology Online Learning
    • Research Grants and Scholarships
  • News and Publications
    • Audiology Today
    • Newsroom
    • Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
    • Advertising
    • Audiology Solutions Network
    • Online Store
  • Careers
    • Career Center
    • Certification
    • Become an Audiologist
    • Doctoral Programs in Audiology
    • Recruiting
    • Resources for New Audiologists
  • Advocacy
    • Legislative and Regulatory Activities
      • State Affairs
      • Federal Affairs
    • Legislative Action Center
    • Government Relations News
  • About the Academy
    • Contact Us
    • Academy Membership
      • Benefits
      • Ethics
      • Member Directory
      • Membership Renewals
    • Leadership
    • Committees and Task Forces
    • Get Involved
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Honors and Awards
    • Sponsorships and Corporate Partners
    • Press and Media Information
  • Audiology Community
  • Consumers
    • What Is an Audiologist
    • Hearing and Balance Symptoms and Conditions
    • Managing Hearing Loss
    • Seniors and Hearing Loss
    • Children and Hearing Loss
wave-mark-white
April 26, 2019

Hearing Aids Can Help You Hear the Sounds of the World

  • Academy News
By Angela Shoup

May is Better Hearing Month…what better time to treat yourself to the rich sound tapestry in our world.

From hearing someone say “I love you,” to enjoying the spring chorus of song birds, the sense of hearing helps us to connect with others and to our world.

Hearing loss(1) is the third most common health problem in the United States. And hearing difficulties occur across the life span. Some infants(2) are born with reduced hearing ability,  young people(3) may develop hearing difficulty due to multiple factors, including disease or exposure to loud sounds, and older adults(4) may experience a decrease in hearing sensitivity with age. 

Untreated hearing loss is associated with decreased quality of life. As hearing difficulty makes it more challenging to communicate, people become less involved in social activities, which may lead to isolation and an increased risk of depression(5). Untreated hearing loss can also cause fatigue. Struggling to hear and understand(6) is exhausting and depletes energy that could be used for processing information or other activities. By making hearing less effortful, appropriately fit amplification devices can reduce the energy needed to hear and understand speech—thus, freeing more energy for enjoying life and engaging with family and friends.

There are many options for treating hearing loss(7), and the best individual option will depend on the type and degree of hearing loss. An audiologist not only completes testing to characterize your hearing abilities, but uses that information along with an assessment of your communication, listening, and lifestyle needs to provide a custom program to improve communication(8). Appropriate device selection is part of this process.

Current hearing devices have many advanced features and options. Your audiologist can help select those that are most appropriate for you, and can also ensure the features and options are adjusted correctly for your specific needs. Some hearing devices will link directly to your cell phone(9) to improve your ability to stay in touch with family and friends and to enhance your listening experiences. 

Although important, hearing instruments are just part of the solution. To have your hearing evaluated and discuss the best plan to address hearing and communication difficulties you may be experiencing,  see an audiologist(10) to reconnect and start enjoying the rich sound tapestry of our world again. 

Get Your Hearing and Balance Checked…Find an Audiologist Near You!(2)


References

  1. Hearing loss
  2. Infants
  3. Young people
  4. Age Related Hearing Loss
  5. Depression
  6. Listening Effort and Fatigue
  7. Types of Hearing Devices
  8. Custom program to improve communication
  9. Telephone and Listening Devices
  10. What is an Audiologist?

Angela Shoup, PhD, is the Executive Director of the Callier Center for Communication Disorders and a professor in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas. She is the President of the Academy’s Board of Directors. 

Share this

Recent Posts

  • Volunteer Spotlight: Han Nguyen, AuD
  • Music and Hearing
    Research Grant Winner 2022
  • Pediatric Audiology Practice Analysis Completed

Related Posts

(Mangostar/shutterstock.com)
Academy News

A Moment We’ll Never Forget

In 2022, AU Bankaitis, PhD, was chosen as the recipient of the Samuel F. Lybarger Industry Award, reserved for individuals who made important contributions to research, engineering, or technical achievements in audiology. Throughout her career, Dr. Bankaitis has created resource information on infection control, clinical issues, and hearing instrument consideration and is a “go-to” person…

Read More
We Promote Diversity and Inclusion
Academy News

We Promote Diversity and Inclusion

By Antony Ricardo Joseph and Deyanira Gonzalez Within the profession of audiology, there has been an increasing need for cultural competence and sensitivity across most work settings. This includes clinical research, graduate education, and health-care delivery. Specifically, cultural competence and sensitivity are fundamental to acknowledging and remediating the racial and ethnic disparities that have emerged…

Read More
(Mangostar/shutterstock.com)
Academy News

This Is Where You Come In

In 2022, Shelley Moats, AuD, PASC, was the award recipient for the Marion Downs Pediatric Audiology Award. A pediatric audiologist, Dr. Moats was thrilled to receive the award and be recognized in her field for the work about which she is passionate. Now that the annual honors and awards cycle is open for 2022, she…

Read More
wave-mark

Join the Academy

Academy members receive many benefits for professional development, practice management, and community development.

Become a Member
aaoa-logo-white-blue-min

American Academy of Audiology
11480 Commerce Park Drive
Suite 220
Reston, VA 20191

Tel: 703-790-8466
Fax: 703-790-8631

  • Practice Resources
    • Practice Guidelines and Standards
    • Reimbursement
    • Coding
    • Compliance
    • Public Awareness
    • State Medicaid
    • Medicare FAQs
    • COVID-19 Resources
  • Education and Events
    • Event Calendar
    • AAA Annual Conference
    • Academy Research Conference (ARC)
    • Continuing Education
    • eAudiology Online Learning
    • Research Grants and Scholarships
  • News and Publications
    • Audiology Today
    • Newsroom
    • Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
    • Advertising
    • Audiology Solutions Network
    • Online Store
  • Careers
    • Career Center
    • Certification
    • Become an Audiologist
    • Doctoral Programs in Audiology
    • Recruiting
    • Resources for New Audiologists
  • Advocacy
    • Legislative and Regulatory Activities
      • State Affairs
      • Federal Affairs
    • Legislative Action Center
    • Government Relations News
  • About the Academy
    • Contact Us
    • Academy Membership
      • Benefits
      • Ethics
      • Member Directory
      • Membership Renewals
    • Leadership
    • Committees and Task Forces
    • Get Involved
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Honors and Awards
    • Sponsorships and Corporate Partners
    • Press and Media Information
  • Audiology Community
  • Consumers
    • What Is an Audiologist
    • Hearing and Balance Symptoms and Conditions
    • Managing Hearing Loss
    • Seniors and Hearing Loss
    • Children and Hearing Loss
  • Audiology Community
  • Students
  • Donate
  • Get Involved
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Antitrust Policy and Guidelines
  • Terms of Use Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sitemap

© Copyright 2023 American Academy of Audiology

Website by Yoko Co

Scroll To Top