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Good news on World Hearing Day: If you have a hearing loss and use hearing aids, you have a much higher chance of keeping your independence.

March 3rd is World Hearing Day and together with the World Health Organization (WHO) the undersigned organisations make the European public aware of why hearing loss should be treated early and adequately.

Today, 52 million persons in Europe live with a hearing loss. This number will increase, mainly because we are living longer than previous generations. Untreated hearing loss has a negative effect on your personal life, for example reduced social activity and the risk of becoming more dependent on others.

Professor Hélène Amieva, a neuropsychologist and epidemiologist working at Inserm in Bordeaux (FR), has recently published a study in the Journals of Gerontology, Medical Science. This study is based on data from 3,777 persons aged 65 and older who had been followed over a 25 year period.

The study shows that persons with untreated hearing loss are at a higher risk of becoming dependent on others in their daily life. According to the study, persons with hearing loss who use hearing aids have the same chance of staying independent as persons with normal hearing.

“Our members typically have taken the step to see a hearing care professional and they use amplification, hearing aids or cochlear Implants. They all value their independence and certainly want to stay dynamic, social and smart. We encourage all who experience hearing problems, to consult a professional and to take action, so they can lead a fuller, richer and much more enjoyable life”, says Marcel Bobeldijk, President of the European Federation of Hard of Hearing People (EFHOH).

“As Europe’s population ages, the burden of untreated hearing loss is expected to increase. We must act to protect older person’s rights and promote their participation in society! Therefore, we support the World Hearing Day, and warmly welcome the initiative of the World Health Organization” says Anne-Sophie Parent, Secretary General of AGE Platform Europe.

“When listening to the specific needs of our clients, improving quality of life, is very high on the agenda. We nearly always hear that if they had known that using hearing aids would change their life in such a positive way, they would have taken this step much sooner. The theme of the World Hearing Day 2018, ‘Hear The Future… and prepare for it’, will hopefully help raise awareness among those who experience hearing problems that something can be done and the sooner the better for them”, says Mark Laureyns, President the European Association of Hearing Aid Professionals (AEA).

“World Hearing Day is a unique occasion to highlight the importance of good hearing for everyone regardless of age. If you think that you might have a hearing problem, get your hearing checked by a certified hearing care professional. If you have a hearing loss that must be addressed, the use of modern hearing aids can and will make a big difference to your life”, says Stefan Zimmer, Secretary General of the European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA).

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