Did you know a large number of people with hearing loss--43%--are 65 years of age or older? Or that people with a hearing loss wait an average of 7 years before seeking help? Hearing loss can seriously impact an adult's quality of life. It can cause misunderstandings, missed information, poor performance at work, heightened stress, unnecessary fatigue and withdrawal from family and friends. Hearing loss in adults is associated with lower net worth, higher unemployment, poorer health, earlier retirement and greater overall general dissatisfaction with life.

Throughout life, people's ears are exposed to a lot of loud and repetitive noise. By age 50 or 60, there can be enough deterioration to interfere with conversation. Hearing loss may lead family members to believe that senility is setting in when, in reality, the person is having difficulty hearing. Seniors with hearing loss may also need help with activities of daily living (e.g., shopping, banking, making appointments, etc.).