Cochlear Highlights Five Ways Treatment for Hearing Loss Can Change a Person's Life

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Jan. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Hearing loss is the third most common health condition in the United States, affecting more than 38 million Americans.¹ It can happen to anyone and can occur at any stage of life, negatively affecting everything from work-life to home-life, relationships with friends and family and even mental and emotional health.² It is for these reasons and many more that Cochlear, the world's leading implantable hearing solutions company, has released five ways that advanced treatment for hearing loss may be able to transform a person's life.

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With the latest in hearing technology, including cochlear implants and bone conduction systems, those with hearing loss now have the opportunity to enhance their world. Below are five ways that the introduction of sound may be able to transform an individual's life:

1. Health. Fatigue, tension, stress, depression³ and even dementia⁴ are all physical symptoms cited by experts as ailments linked to hearing loss. From an emotional perspective, people with hearing loss may experience irritability, anger, negativism and diminished psychological health.⁵ However, the good news is when the ability to hear is regained, overall physical and psychological health can be improved.⁶
2. Career. Reduced job performance and earning potential⁷ – and the resulting loss of identity and self-esteem – are also effects of hearing loss. The ability for an individual with hearing loss to carry out assigned tasks in a workplace environment can be severely hampered by factors such as background noise, acoustics and unfamiliarity with surroundings.⁸ Treatment for hearing loss often helps individuals feel more confident and prepared when they are on the job.
3. Daily Conveniences. Difficulty hearing the TV, alarm clock, radio, conversations over the phone or the words of another person are not just inconveniences but also potentially life-changing challenges that can lead to embarrassment, anxiety and even social withdrawal.⁹ People who struggle with these challenges due to difficulties with hearing loss may be able to overcome them by seeking treatment for their hearing loss.
4. Special Moments. Be it the crack of a bat at a little league game, the soft serenade of wedding music, or collective laughter of friends at a dinner party, many of life's most wonderful moments can be missed due to hearing loss. This can lead to feelings of isolation and depression.¹⁰ Improved hearing can allow individuals to participate more in life and better enjoy the special moments.
5. Relationships. The inability to share intimate conversations or treasured moments because communication through conversation has been lost may be one of the most devastating effects of hearing impairment. Improved hearing through treatment options, like a cochlear implant or bone conduction system, can afford individuals the opportunity to be more fully engaged with those special people in their life.

As the industry pioneer, Cochlear is a trusted partner in helping individuals better understand the science behind treatments for hearing loss, specifically relating to hearing implants. For those who have questions or are interested in learning more, Cochlear offers a Concierge service, allowing people considering the solutions to be counseled by a licensed audiologist who is also a cochlear implant recipient or a parent of a cochlear implant recipient. Speak directly with the Concierge by phone at 1-800-483-3123, chat online or email [email protected].

About Cochlear Implants
Cochlear implants are a proven medical option for infants as young as 12 months old with profound hearing loss, children aged two and older with severe to profound hearing loss, and adults with moderate-to-profound hearing loss. These devices bypass damaged portions of the inner ear and directly stimulate the hearing nerve, or cochlea.

About Bone Conduction Systems
Bone conduction systems are a proven medical option for adults and children with conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss, and single-sided sensorineural deafness and meet the candidacy criteria. Using bone conduction instead of air conduction to interpret sound, the Baha® System does not amplify sound like a hearing aid; it bypasses the outer and middle ear and uses the natural conductive properties of bone to transfer sound. 

About Cochlear
Cochlear is the global leader in implantable hearing solutions. It has a dedicated global team of more than 2,700 people who deliver the gift of sound to those with hearing loss in over 100 countries. Its vision is to connect people, young and old, to a world of sound by offering life enhancing hearing solutions.

The Cochlear promise of "Hear now. And always" embodies the company's commitment to providing its recipients with the best possible hearing performance today and for the rest of their lives. For over 30 years, Cochlear has helped hundreds of thousands of people either hear for the first time or reconnect them to their families, friends, workplaces and communities.

For more information, visit Cochlear.com/US.

¹ American Academy of Audiology. Retrieved from: http://www.audiology.org/resources/consumer/documents/FSHearingloss08.pdf. Accessed June 13, 2013.
² Lin, et al. (2013). Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults. JAMA Intern Med. 173(4):293-299.
³ Better Hearing Institute. Retrieved from: http://www.betterhearing.org/hearing_loss/consequences_of_hearing_loss/index.cfm. Accessed June 13, 2013.
⁴ Lin, et al. (2013). Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults. JAMA Intern Med. 173(4):293-299
⁵ Better Hearing Institute. Retrieved from: http://www.betterhearing.org/hearing_loss/consequences_of_hearing_loss/index.cfm. Accessed June 13, 2013.
⁶ Kaland, M.  & Salvatore, K. (2002, March 19). The Psychology of Hearing Loss. The ASHA Leader.
⁷ HearUSA. Retrieved from: http://www.hearusa.net/consumer/hearinghealth/hearinglossfacts.asp. Accessed July 18, 2013
⁸ Dobie, R. & Van Hemel, S. (Eds.). (2004). Hearing Loss: Determining Eligibility for Social Security Benefits. National Academies Press. Retrieved from: http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11099. Accessed June 13, 2013
⁹ Hearing Loss Association of America. Retrieved from: http://www.hearingloss.org/content/symptoms-hearing-loss. Accessed June 13, 2013.
¹⁰ HearUSA. Retrieved from: http://www.hearusa.net/consumer/hearinghealth/hearinglossfacts.asp. Accessed July 18, 2013

SOURCE Cochlear