Hearing loss is affecting daily life

Hearing helps us make the most of life. If you think you have hearing loss, or if hearing aids no longer help, you don’t have to accept this as a natural part of ageing.

Teenager looking down at the ground

What you'll find on this page

  • The impact of hearing loss on daily life.
  • How others enjoy life to the full again with hearing treatment.
  • What to do about hearing loss when hearing aids aren't enough.

There are many everyday sounds people with hearing take for granted — traffic on a busy road, birds chirping, the sizzle of a frypan, and conversations with friends. Losing these everyday sounds often leaves a big impact.

Many people live with hearing loss for years and feel limited in what they can accomplish. Everyday undertakings become challenging, like crossing the road or talking on the phone. They may choose to miss activities and events.

As a result, they can lose connections to loved ones and withdraw from the things they love most.

If you feel like you're missing out on the life you love, there is hope.

Socialising with loved ones

So much of how we interact with others involves noisy situations, like a child's birthday party or dinner with friends. If it's too hard to hear the conversation because of your hearing loss, it's often easier to stay home and miss out.

If socialising has become difficult, even with hearing aids, it's time to seek help.

“For the last few years, I started losing my hearing capacity and started losing my confidence. I started feeling lonely, isolated from the world and started withdrawing from people. But the cochlear implant made my communication easy going. I can hear very clearly and nobody is staring at my ear."

- Asha B, Cochlear™ Kanso® recipient, India

More solutions for hearing loss

Even if hearing aids no longer provide enough benefit there are options to improve your hearing — and get more from life — with hearing implant technology.

Hearing solutions can be tailored to meet your unique circumstances and it's easy to get the information you need to make informed choices about how you can improve your hearing.

Keeping your career on track

Going to work gives you independence, especially when you know your hearing doesn't limit what you can accomplish. Beyond an income, a job gives you confidence and motivation.

Hearing loss can have a profound impact on career prospects, as work environments demand communication with others. It can also affect safety in busy workplaces, which is not only a concern for you but also for those around you.

Cochlear recipient Tobin speaks to workers during a meeting in an office

"As a chief operating officer it's important for me to hear the differences between figures, whether it's a million or a billion."

- Tobin F, Cochlear™ Nucleus® recipient, Australia

Don't accept hearing loss as part of getting older

Losing your hearing may seem like a part of ageing that's unavoidable, but there are ways to help improve your hearing, even when hearing aids no longer work. Research suggests a link between hearing loss and loneliness and stress.1,2

That's why if you think you have hearing loss, it's important you take action as soon as possible. Ignoring the signs may affect more than just your ability to hear. It may also affect your confidence, your relationships and your self-esteem.

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Disclaimer

Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always follow the directions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.

For a full list of Cochlear’s trademarks, please visit our Terms of Use page.

Views expressed are those of the individual. Consult your health professional to determine if you are a candidate for Cochlear technology.

References

  1.  Contrera K, Sung Y, Betz J, Li L, Lin F. Change in loneliness after intervention with cochlear implants or hearing aids. The Laryngoscope. 2017;127(8):1885-1889.
  2. Rutherford B, Brewster K, Golub J, Kim A, Roose S. Sensation and Psychiatry: Linking Age-Related Hearing Loss to Late-Life Depression and Cognitive Decline. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2018;175(3):215-224.