May 14, 2007
Avada Hearing Care Centers (www.avada.com) is joining with the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) to focus on educating Baby Boomers about how to handle hearing loss. The joint effort comes during the month-long observation of May as Better Hearing and Speech Month.
Boomers–those born between 1947 and 1964–may be particularly susceptible to hearing loss because of their lifelong exposure to loud music and other noises, according to Russ Hearn, director of marketing for Avada Hearing Care Centers.
"Many people associate hearing loss with advancing age," Hearn said. "In fact, hearing loss is also associated with exposure to loud noises, something that some baby boomers have faced since childhood. According to the BHI, two-thirds of people with hearing loss are below retirement age."
"Research shows that when people cannot hear properly, they make less money and their inability to hear can disrupt family life," Hearn said. Hearing loss is generally easily diagnosed the latest digital and programmable hearing instruments improve hearing levels discreetly and effectively, Hearn added
"Too many people cling to the old, stubborn belief that wearing a hearing aid won’t help fix their hearing problems," said Sergei Kochkin, PhD, executive director of BHI. "We hope people, especially baby boomers, understand that hearing aids work better than ever, and can dramatically improve the quality of their lives."
Surveys published by the BHI have found that 93 percent of consumers with hearing
devices say the devices have improved their quality of life while 85 percent say they are satisfied with the benefits they receive from hearing aids.
Specific improvements associated with better hearing health include more effective communications (71 percent), better social life (56 percent), better relationships at home (55 percent) and in the work place (48 percent), improved emotional health (40 percent), improved mental/cognitive ability (35 percent), and better physical health (24
percent).
Ninety percent (90 percent) of the respondents said their hearing aids improved communication in one-on-one situations, while more than eight out of 10 were satisfied by the instruments’ performance in small groups and while watching television. Three of four respondents were satisfied with their hearing aids when outdoors, while listening to
music, while participating in leisure activities, in the car, at a house of worship and in a restaurant.
During May Avada locations will offer free hearing screenings as part of "Better Hearing and Speech Month."
Learn more about Avada online at www.avada.com
Source: Avada Hearing Care Centers
