Market penetration among males with hearing loss in
the U.S. is barely 12%, about 1/3 of that for
females, says the author.Q: My husband, brother,
father, and two uncles have hearing losses and are
stubborn as mules about doing anything about it.
Last week I thought I had major victory when I
finally got my husband to go in to have his hearing
tested. But then he came back, muttered something
about having a “little hearing loss” and that was
it. In the meantime, me and the kids miss his
participation with the family even when we’re all
sitting in the same room! What is it with men that
prevents them from doing anything about something as
serious as hearing loss?--- Mrs. J. D.
Dear Mrs. J. D.: Believe it or not, you’ve hit the
nail on the head, as to one of the main reasons why,
out of more than 30 million Americans with hearing
loss, only 4 million have done anything about it.
Statistically, serious hearing loss occurs almost 2
to 1 in men over women, yet more women wear hearing
aids than men.
This is a most tragic state of affairs, as hearing
loss is our #1 untreated physical handicap, albeit
an “invisible” one. For the young, it is often
mistaken for mental retardation, ADD, learning
disabilities, and myriad developmental delays
(overwhelmingly for boys). For the elderly, it is
mistaken for Alzheimer’s, inattentiveness,
depression, and anti-social behavior. For everyone
between, it costs the U.S. economy an estimated $60
billion each year in lost work, accidents, and
reduced productivity.
The key to why your particular attempt failed was
because YOU were not with your husband throughout
the evaluation process. I tell all wives, daughters,
and nieces: “Go with the men in your family for the
hearing test.” Often men ask me why I want their
wives with them for the hearing test, and I jokingly
say, “To make an honest man of you.”
But, in truth, the psychosocial effects of hearing
loss are such that, with few exceptions in males,
the worse the loss the more ambivalent and
indecisive one is about 1) admitting there is indeed
a problem and, 2) accepting the needed solutions.
One thing to keep in mind: The real loss of
communication is greatest at the intimate level,
where nuances of speech, tones of voice say it
all----in such cases, bonds break, relationships
suffer, depression and frustration sets in, and
quality of life deteriorates. And that’s just the
mild to moderate losses. Severe losses, left
uncorrected, devastate one’s ability to function and
perform at their potential, and reduce overall
health condition.
So, please back up, do a retake on the scene you've
painted above. And this time YOU go with your
husband, and give him all the support he needs to
get past his “John Wayne Complex”. Then, he’ll learn
that a real “he-man” can wear a hearing aid as well
as the next guy.
My, what better hearing can do for a fellow!
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