Many baby boomers yearn for retirement, but uncertain finances and healthcare have influenced the need to stay in the workforce longer. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that the percentage of workers between the ages of 65 and 74 is expected to increase by 83.4% from 2006 to 2016. But as boomers stay in the workforce longer, untreated hearing loss may sap their incomes and employment.

Research reported by the Better Hearing Institute demonstrated that the use of hearing aids reduces the risk of losing income by 90 to 100% for those with mild hearing loss and 65 to 77% for those with moderate to severe hearing loss.

Then why are baby boomers not having routine hearing checks and, if they do have hearing loss, use hearing aids? Professor of audiology Robyn Cox at theUniversityofMemphisbelieves the problem is innate to our current medical care. “Routine hearing checks are not part of the culture,” she says. “We get all types of checks but neglect our hearing. We have not taught people to realize that hearing needs to be checked.”

Hearing aid use expectedly suffers when individuals do not receive hearing checks. “Many don’t know they have hearing problems,” Dr. Cox says. “Many do, and don’t know what to do about it. We have made it difficult to figure out.”

An effort needs to be made to get baby boomers focused on their hearing, which will not only change the culture surrounding hearing healthcare, but also urge employers, health insurance companies, and primary care physicians to focus on hearing loss. Dr. Cox adds, “Primary care physicians don’t think about hearing care, and health insurance companies don’t include hearing checks as preventive measures.  When you go get your physical, a doctor should ask about your hearing and maybe, if you are a certain age, require you to get a hearing test.”

 

Content provided by The Hearing Journal