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Real Talk: Ignoring Your Hearing Loss Is Risky
You already know your hearing loss changes how you interact with people. You ask them to repeat themselves, you feel left out when everyone is laughing and you didn’t hear the joke. You’ve been told the TV is too loud so many times.
But did you know ignoring your hearing loss can have health and wellness implications for your future, beyond just hearing conversations?
Your Brain and Beyond
Studies have shown compelling connections between untreated hearing loss and:
Understand the Risks of Ignoring Your Hearing Loss
It’s hard to make a good decision about getting treatment for your hearing loss if you don’t have the whole picture.
Risk of developing dementia1
Odds of a fall2
More out-of-pocket health spending3
Risk of relationship breakdown4
2X the risk of developing dementia with mild hearing loss
3X the risk with moderate hearing loss
5X the risk with severe hearing loss
Even people who develop hearing loss at age 40–55 are at increased risk
Mild hearing loss may triple the odds
of having a fall
As hearing loss gets worse, the odds increase significantly
Research found this to be true for people over 40; it's not just an older adult risk
46% increase in health care spending3
More in-patient stays in the hospital3
30% greater risk of being readmitted within 30 days5
Nearly half of intimate relationships experience some relationship breakdown
1 in 3 people with untreated hearing loss lose touch with family and friends
Is there anything that can help?
There’s some good news in the research. Consistent use of hearing aids, when prescribed, may change these risk factors.
- Long-term use of hearing aids has been shown to reduce the risk of cognitive decline to equal that of people with normal hearing.6
- For people at risk, wearing hearing aids has been shown to reduce the rate of cognitive decline by almost 50% over a three-year period.7
- Your odds of having a fall could be reduced significantly by daily use of hearing aids.8
- Several studies report that the use of hearing aids improves balance in adults with hearing loss.9
- Regular use of hearing aids may reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations and improve communication with caregivers and health care staff.10
- Acceptance of and taking responsibility for the challenges hearing loss puts on a relationship have been shown
to lead to happier relationships.11
- Daily hearing aids use has been shown to improve interpersonal relationships, including improving existing relationships or making it easier to establish new ones.12,13
- Regular use of hearing aids helps keep or grow your social network and reduces feelings of loneliness.14
What Have You Got to Lose?
Maybe a Lot.
Feeling overwhelmed? That’s okay. You don’t have to take it all in at once. But if you’re still avoiding hearing aids because you think they “make you look old,” ask yourself this:
Which is more noticeable: hearing aids, or constantly asking people to repeat themselves?
Take the first step toward protecting your brain, your balance—and your future.
Book a FREE, no obligation hearing screening today.*
Want to learn more about other risks of untreated hearing loss?
Check out these pages:
Sources
1. Lin FR, Metter EJ, O’Brien RJ, Resnick SM, Zonderman AB, Ferrucci L. Hearing loss and incident dementia. Arch Neurol. 2011 Feb.
2. Frank R. Lin, MD, PhD, and Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD. Hearing Loss and Falls Among Older Adults in the United States. February 27, 2013. 3. Nicholas S. Reed, AuD; Aylin Altan, PhD; Jennifer A. Deal, PhD; Charlotte Yeh, MD; Alexander D. Kravetz, PharmD; Margaret Wallhagen, RN, PhD; Frank R. Lin, MD, PhD. Trends in Health Care Costs and Utilization Associated With Untreated Hearing Loss Over 10 Years. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019. 4. Geraci, J. (2011). AARP/American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), National Poll on Hearing Health Results Summary. Crux Research. 5. Ji Eun Chang PhD, Barbara Weinstein PhD, Joshua Chodosh MD, MSHS, Jan Blustein MD, PhD. Hospital Readmission Risk for Patients with Self-Reported Hearing Loss and Communication Trouble. Published October 2018, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 6. Amieva H, Ouvrard C, Giulioli C, Meillon C, Rullier L, Dartigues JF. Self-Reported Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids, and Cognitive Decline in Elderly Adults: A 25-Year Study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2015. 7. Lin FR, Pike JR, Albert MS, et al. Hearing intervention versus health education control to reduce cognitive decline in older adults with hearing loss in the USA (ACHIEVE): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2023.
8. Laura Campos, Allan Prochazka, Melinda Anderson, Alexander Kaizer, Carol Foster, Timothy Hullar. Consistent hearing aid use is associated with lower fall prevalence and risk in older adults with hearing loss. October 2023. 9. Mahafza MT, Wilson WJ, Brauer S, Timmer BHB, Hickson L. A Systematic Review of the Effect of Hearing Aids on Static and Dynamic Balance in Adults with Hearing Impairment. Trends Hear. 2022. 10. Mahmoudi E, Zazove P, Meade M, McKee MM. Association Between Hearing Aid Use and Health Care Use and Cost Among Older Adults With Hearing Loss. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018. 11. Anderson, D.l. and Noble, W. Couples attributions about behaviours modulated by hearing impairments: Links with relationship satisfaction. Int J Audiol. 2005 Apr. 12. Avierinos, R. J., Beukes, E., Manchaiah, V., Oosthuizen, I., le Roux, T., & Swanepoel, D. W. (2024). Meaningful life changes following hearing aid use: a qualitative user perspective. International Journal of Audiology, 64(5), 471–480. 13. Brooks, D. N., Hallam, R. S., & Mellor, P. A. (2001). The effects on significant others of providing a hearing aid to the hearing-impaired partner. British Journal of Audiology, 35(3), 165–171. 14. Reed NS, Chen J, Huang AR, Pike JR, Arnold M, Burgard S, Chen Z, Chisolm T, Couper D, Cudjoe TKM, Deal JA, Goman AM, Glynn NW, Gmelin T, Gravens-Mueller L, Hayden KM, Mitchell CM, Mosley T, Oh ES, Pankow JS, Sanchez VA, Schrack JA, Coresh J, Lin FR; ACHIEVE Collaborative Research Group. Hearing Intervention, Social Isolation, and Loneliness: A Secondary Analysis of the ACHIEVE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2025 May 12. Hearing devices are subject to state and federal laws regarding conditions of sale, including, without limitation, in-person initial visits, direct observations, and testing/medical screenings (subject to exceptions). Terms, conditions and product features may vary based on location and product type. Free hearing screening available at participating locations only. *Some restrictions and limitations may apply (including, without limitation, additional terms and conditions found at https://www.beltone.com/en-us, participating locations, and applicable professional service fees or other charges in connection with tests, evaluations, and/or screenings). Benefits of hearing instruments may vary by type and degree of hearing loss, noise environment, accuracy of hearing screening and proper fit. © 2025 GN Hearing A/S. All rights reserved. Beltone is a trademark of GN Hearing A/S.
You already know your hearing loss changes how you interact with people. You ask them to repeat themselves, you feel left out when everyone is laughing and you didn’t hear the joke. You’ve been told the TV is too loud so many times.
But did you know ignoring your hearing loss can have health
and wellness implications for your future, beyond just hearing conversations?
Real Talk:
Ignoring Your
Hearing Loss
Is Risky
Your Brain and Beyond
Studies have shown compelling connections between untreated hearing loss and:
Understand the
Risks of Ignoring
Your Hearing Loss
It’s hard to make a good
decision about getting treatment for your hearing loss if you don’t have the whole picture.
Risk of developing dementia1
Odds of a fall2
More out-of-pocket health spending3
Risk of relationship breakdown4
2X the risk of developing dementia with mild hearing loss
3X the risk with moderate hearing loss
5X the risk with severe hearing loss
Even people who develop hearing loss at age 40–55 are at increased risk
Mild hearing loss may triple
the odds of having a fall
As hearing loss gets worse,
the odds increase significantly
Research found this to be
true for people over 40;
it's not just an older
adult risk
46% increase in health care spending3
More in-patient stays
in the hospital3
30% greater risk of being readmitted within 30 days5
Nearly half of intimate relationships experience
some relationship breakdown
1 in 3 people with untreated hearing loss lose touch with family and friends
Is there anything that can help?
There’s some good news in the research. Consistent
use of hearing aids, when prescribed, may change these risk factors.
- Long-term use of hearing aids has been shown to reduce the risk of cognitive decline to equal that of people with normal hearing.6
- For people at risk, wearing hearing aids has been shown to reduce the rate of cognitive decline by almost 50% over a three-year period.7
- Your odds of having a fall could be reduced significantly by daily use of hearing aids.8
- Several studies report that the use of hearing aids improves balance in adults with hearing loss.9
- Regular use of hearing aids may reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations and improve communication with caregivers and health care staff.10
- Acceptance of and taking responsibility for the challenges hearing loss
puts on a relationship have been shown to lead to happier relationships.11
- Daily hearing aids use
has been shown to improve interpersonal relationships, including improving existing relationships or making it easier to establish new ones.12,13
- Regular use of hearing aids helps keep or grow your social network and reduces feelings of loneliness.14
What Have You
Got to Lose?
Maybe a Lot.
Feeling overwhelmed? That’s okay. You don’t have to take it all in at once. But if you’re still avoiding hearing aids because you think they “make you look old,” ask yourself this:
Which is more noticeable: hearing aids, or constantly asking people to repeat themselves?
Take the first step toward protecting your brain, your balance—and your future.
Book a FREE, no obligation hearing screening today.*
Want to learn more about other risks of untreated hearing loss?Check out these pages:
Sources
1. Lin FR, Metter EJ, O’Brien RJ, Resnick SM, Zonderman AB, Ferrucci L. Hearing loss and incident dementia. Arch Neurol. 2011 Feb. 2. Frank R. Lin, MD, PhD, and Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD. Hearing Loss and Falls Among Older Adults in the United States. February 27, 2013. 3. Nicholas S. Reed, AuD; Aylin Altan, PhD; Jennifer A. Deal, PhD; Charlotte Yeh, MD; Alexander D. Kravetz, PharmD; Margaret Wallhagen, RN, PhD; Frank R. Lin, MD, PhD. Trends in Health Care Costs and Utilization Associated With Untreated Hearing Loss Over 10 Years. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019. 4. Geraci, J. (2011). AARP/American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), National Poll on Hearing Health Results Summary. Crux Research. 5. Ji Eun Chang PhD, Barbara Weinstein PhD, Joshua Chodosh MD, MSHS, Jan Blustein MD, PhD. Hospital Readmission Risk for Patients with Self-Reported Hearing Loss and Communication Trouble. Published October 2018, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 6. Amieva H, Ouvrard C, Giulioli C, Meillon C, Rullier L, Dartigues JF. Self-Reported Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids, and Cognitive Decline in Elderly Adults: A 25-Year Study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2015. 7. Lin FR, Pike JR, Albert MS, et al. Hearing intervention versus health education control to reduce cognitive decline in older adults with hearing loss in the USA (ACHIEVE): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2023 8. Laura Campos, Allan Prochazka, Melinda Anderson, Alexander Kaizer, Carol Foster, Timothy Hullar. Consistent hearing aid use is associated with lower fall prevalence and risk in older adults with hearing loss. October 2023. 9. Mahafza MT, Wilson WJ, Brauer S, Timmer BHB, Hickson L. A Systematic Review of the Effect of Hearing Aids on Static and Dynamic Balance in Adults with Hearing Impairment. Trends Hear. 2022. 10. Mahmoudi E, Zazove P, Meade M, McKee MM. Association Between Hearing Aid Use and Health Care Use and Cost Among Older Adults With Hearing Loss. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018. 11. Anderson, D.l. and Noble, W. Couples attributions about behaviours modulated by hearing impairments: Links with relationship satisfaction. Int J Audiol. 2005 Apr. 12. Avierinos, R. J., Beukes, E., Manchaiah, V., Oosthuizen, I., le Roux, T., & Swanepoel, D. W. (2024). Meaningful life changes following hearing aid use: a qualitative user perspective. International Journal of Audiology, 64(5), 471–480. 13. Brooks, D. N., Hallam, R. S., & Mellor, P. A. (2001). The effects on significant others of providing a hearing aid to the hearing-impaired partner. British Journal of Audiology, 35(3), 165–171. 14. Reed NS, Chen J, Huang AR, Pike JR, Arnold M, Burgard S, Chen Z, Chisolm T, Couper D, Cudjoe TKM, Deal JA, Goman AM, Glynn NW, Gmelin T, Gravens-Mueller L, Hayden KM, Mitchell CM, Mosley T, Oh ES, Pankow JS, Sanchez VA, Schrack JA, Coresh J, Lin FR; ACHIEVE Collaborative Research Group. Hearing Intervention, Social Isolation, and Loneliness: A Secondary Analysis of the ACHIEVE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2025 May 12. Hearing devices are subject to state and federal laws regarding conditions of sale, including, without limitation, in-person initial visits, direct observations, and testing/ medical screenings (subject to exceptions). Terms, conditions and product features may vary based on location and product type. Free hearing screening available at participating locations only. *Some restrictions and limitations may apply (including, without limitation, additional terms and conditions found at https://www.beltone.com/en-us, participating locations, and applicable professional service fees or other charges in connection with tests, evaluations, and/or screenings). Benefits of hearing instruments may vary by type and degree of hearing loss, noise environment, accuracy of hearing screening and proper fit. © 2025 GN Hearing A/S. All rights reserved. Beltone is a trademark of GN Hearing A/S.
Maintain your dignity
dignity and independence
and independence
