WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.,
July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans
believe that their social life and their safety would suffer the
most if they had a substantial hearing loss, but think it would
have little impact on their sex life or income, according to a new
public opinion survey commissioned by HearUSA (Amex: EAR), a
national provider of hearing care and hearing aids.
The survey of 1,000 nationally-representative adults, which was
conducted for HearUSA by Kelton Research, asked: If you had a
significant hearing loss, which do you think would suffer the
most?
The results:
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Social life or relationships
with friends
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29%
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Safety
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22%
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Family relationships
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13%
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Job performance
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12%
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Leisure and recreational
activities
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9%
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Overall Health
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4%
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Income
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4%
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Sex life
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1%
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Other
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4%
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Some other findings of the HearUSA survey:
- Nearly 40 percent of older Americans (55+) believe that their
social life and friendships would suffer the most from a hearing
loss
- Women are more likely than men to feel that their family
relationships would suffer the most
- Twice as many parents think their family relationships would be
most impaired by a hearing loss compared to those respondents
without children
Stephen Hansbrough, HearUSA
chairman and CEO, said, "Studies have shown that, left untreated,
even mild hearing loss can lead to avoidance of social situations,
reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety, diminished
overall health, and reduced job performance and earning power.
Untreated hearing loss can also jeopardize family and intimate
relationships."
"Yet, while hearing aids can benefit almost everyone with a
hearing loss," said Hansbrough, "they are used by only one in four
of the 36 million Americas with a hearing problem."
He said that while cost was a major factor, other barriers to
greater acceptance of hearing aids were perceived stigma,
unfamiliarity with today's digital hearing aids technology and a
confusing marketplace.
"Hearing loss is a major public health issue and HearUSA
believes that hearing care needs to be recognized as a medical
necessity and made more affordable, accessible and accountable,"
said Hansbrough.
About HearUSA:
HearUSA is the recognized leader in hearing care for the
nation's top managed care organizations through its 177
company-owned centers and network of more than 2,000 hearing care
providers. HearUSA is the nation's only hearing care network
accredited by URAC, an independent, nonprofit health care
accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality
through accreditation, certification and commendation.
The company is also the administrator of the AARP Hearing Care
Program, designed to help millions of Americans aged 50+ who have
hearing loss.
For:
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HearUSA
www.hearusa.com
Contact: Paige
Brough,
Senior Vice President-Corporate
Communications
PBrough@hearusa.com
561-478-8770 (Ext.
134)
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SOURCE HearUSA